Ulaanbaatar: India has called for a community-led approach to rangeland restoration, emphasising the role of pastoralist communities in protecting grasslands, conserving biodiversity and supporting sustainable land management.
Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav made the case while addressing the Ministerial Dialogue on “Restoration of Rangelands and the Well-being of Pastoralist Communities” at the 17th Conference of Parties (CoP17) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Yadav said restoration efforts should combine scientific planning with traditional knowledge, secure land and grazing rights, and active participation of local communities.
Pastoralists as Custodians of Rangelands
Yadav emphasised that pastoralist communities should have a central role in restoration rather than being treated only as beneficiaries.
“Successful restoration begins with pastoralists as custodians, not merely beneficiaries.”
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He said the combination of traditional knowledge and modern science can support restoration that is environmentally sound, economically viable and socially inclusive.
India’s rangelands span diverse ecological regions, including:
- Himalayan pastures
- Central Indian savannas
- Thar and Kachchh regions
- Southern sholas
- Permanent pastures and grazing lands
According to the Minister, these landscapes support livestock and human populations while contributing to biodiversity conservation and regulating water and carbon cycles.
Science and Community Rights to Guide Restoration
India is using Satellite-based Desertification and Land Degradation Atlases to map grasslands and support scientific restoration planning.
Yadav also highlighted the importance of recognising grazing rights and Community Forest Resource Rights to strengthen the participation of local communities in managing rangelands.
The approach combines landscape-level planning with the rights and knowledge of communities dependent on these ecosystems.
Rajasthan’s Orans Highlight Community Conservation
The Minister cited Orans in Rajasthan as an example of traditional community-led conservation.
These sacred groves are protected by local communities for their cultural and ecological importance. Yadav said around 25,000 community-protected sacred groves, covering approximately 0.6 million hectares across India, demonstrate the role of community stewardship.
The groves also contribute to:
- Protection of pastoral land
- Conservation of critical habitats
- Biodiversity protection
- Community-based management of natural resources
Yadav particularly referred to their importance for habitats of the Great Indian Bustard and noted that many such sacred groves are protected under statutory provisions.
Grasslands, Cheetah Reintroduction and Ecosystem Restoration
India’s restoration efforts also extend to open forests and grassland ecosystems.
Yadav referred to the country’s cheetah reintroduction programme and the proposed expansion of the species into grassland landscapes such as Banni in Gujarat.
He also highlighted the ecological role of deep-rooted grasses, which can contribute to:
- Soil carbon storage
- Better water infiltration
- Groundwater recharge
India has approximately 10 million hectares of permanent pastures and grazing lands, according to the Minister.
India Calls for Greater Global Support
Yadav outlined India’s approach as one that brings together multiple interventions rather than treating rangeland restoration as an isolated activity.
India’s approach includes:
- Landscape management
- Watershed development
- Sustainable grazing
- Fodder development
- Livelihood support
- Community participation
- Scientific planning and monitoring
As countries work towards Land Degradation Neutrality, Yadav called for greater access to finance, technology and knowledge for developing nations.
He also said India is ready to share its experience and solutions through South-South cooperation, while advocating dedicated and accessible financing for rangeland restoration.
The intervention at UNCCD CoP17 placed community stewardship and pastoralist well-being at the centre of India’s approach to restoring rangelands and addressing land degradation.
