New Delhi, Aug 26 — While emphasising the critical role of rangelands in sustaining pastoralist communities, conserving biodiversity and regulating water and carbon cycles, at the 17th Conference of Parties (CoP17) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), India referred to the proposed introduction of Cheetahs into the grasslands in Gujarat's Banni.
Banni is located on the northern fringe of the Great Rann of Kutch and has more than 60 species of grass. Its custodians are the Maldharis -- pastoralists spread across 19 panchayats. Their buffaloes and Kankrej cattle have been grazing these grasslands for more than 400 years.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has cleared the shifting of four Cheetahs (two pairs) from Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh to Banni.
An enclosure has already been built there. Prey has also been released there for the Cheetahs.
While addressing the ministerial dialogue on "Restoration of Rangelands and the Well-being of Pastoralist Communities" at the conference being held in Mongolia's Ulaanbaatar, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, highlighted India's experience in restoring grasslands and rangelands through a combination of scientific planning and community participation.
"Successful restoration begins with pastoralists as custodians, not merely beneficiaries," he said, adding that combining traditional knowledge with modern science can deliver restoration that is ecologically sound, economically viable and socially inclusive.
The grasslands in Banni were nearly destroyed due to the introduction of an invasive tree species. It was the Maldharis who took it upon themselves to restore it.
Noting that India's rangelands stretch from Himalayan pastures and Central Indian savannas to the arid Thar, Kachchh regions and Southern sholas, and how they sustain the country's vast livestock and human population, the Union Minister said that satellite-based Desertification and Land Degradation atlases provide a scientific basis for mapping grasslands and planning restoration, while recognition of grazing rights and community forest resource rights strengthens the role of local communities in sustainable management.
Bhupender Yadav cited the example of Orans in Rajasthan. These are the sacred groves revered and protected by local communities for their cultural and ecological significance.
"Around 25,000 such community-protected sacred groves, covering around 0.6 million hectares across the country, exemplify community stewardship while also securing pastoral land rights and conserving critical habitats, including those of the Great Indian Bustard," he told.
Many of these sacred groves are protected under statutory provisions, the Union Minister added.
Bhupender Yadav noted that deep-rooted grasses contribute to soil carbon storage, enhance water infiltration and support groundwater recharge across India's around 10 million hectares of permanent pastures and grazing lands.
As developing countries advance towards Land Degradation Neutrality, the Union Minister called for enhanced access to finance, technology and knowledge, adding that "India welcomes dedicated, accessible financing for rangeland restoration, and stands ready to share its experience and solutions through South-South cooperation".