India Launches First-Ever Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems at UNCCD COP17
India launched its first-ever Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) of India at the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia), on 17.08.2026.
The document highlights the rich diversity, ecological significance and socio-economic importance of India’s grasslands, savannas, deserts and other open natural ecosystems. It marks an important step towards strengthening their conservation, restoration and sustainable management.
The launch was preceded by a special video message from Bhupender Yadav, Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. He informed that grasslands, scrublands and ravines have for too long been judged by the absence of trees, despite these ecosystems sheltering species found nowhere else on earth and sustaining pastoral communities. He said modern science reinforces the understanding of local communities that healthy grasslands are indispensable for biodiversity, livelihoods and climate resilience.
The Guide was launched at an official UNCCD COP17 side event under the aegis and guidance of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India. The publication of the Guide and the event was organised by the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management (CoE-SLM), Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), and Space Applications Centre (SAC), ISRO. (UPDATED ON 17TH AUGUST 2026)
