Why grasslands are an important ecosystem

A dull yellow grassland devoid of life is a wasteland. So one should consider planting trees on it. Right? Not quite. This deceptively lively landscape shelters unique wildlife encountered in no other habitats!

Saw-scaled viper: one of the deadliest life forms of the grasslands | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockPhoto

As the searing heat of the day gives way to the night chill, two iconic animals of the grasslands become active. A sound like that of a pressure cooker’s whistle warns you of the presence of one of the smallest yet deadliest animals of the grasslands: the saw-scaled viper, one of the most venomous snakes in India hunts for rodents by detecting their heat signatures at night.

The Indian Grey Wolf is a social animal that runs in packs. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives

Then, a low-pitched howl fills the night air. The undisputed apex predator of the grasslands is on the prowl. The “Grey Ghost of the Grasslands” is on the prowl. The Indian grey wolf usually hunts herbivores like chinkara and blackbuck but has nor turned to domestic goats, as easier prey. An integral part of the grassland ecosystem, it keeps overgrazing by herbivores in check. With grasslands considered wastelands and taken over for construction, agriculture and other human activity, the wolf’s numbers are declining and it is classified as Vulnerable.

Great Indian Bustard in Rajasthan | Photo Credit: Nazir Ahmed

Elsewhere in the dry grasslands of Rajasthan lives an enormous ground-dwelling bird that can be said to be the mascot of this ecosystem: the Great Indian Bustard. Weighing upto 15kg, this iconic bird with its black crest, white neck, and tall stature is fighting extinction because of the destruction of its home grounds.

Calotropis gigantea flowers | Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam

Another grassland dweller is the Calotropis gigantea (giant milkweed). Its large leaves and purple flowers make a pretty picture but also contain a toxic milky sap that keeps many animals away. However, the caterpillars of the Tiger Butterfly feed on these leaves to save themselves from predators.

Apart from animals and plants, humans also depend on grasslands. Across India, thousands of people known as pastoralists live on the move herding cattle, sheep, goat, buffaloes, camels and yaks who use grasslands as pasturelands. When people try to change grasslands by planting trees, they permanently destroy a particular ecosystem and the biodiversity it contains. So, remember, grasslands are not wastelands.

Fun fact: Grasslands also act as carbon sinks that store carbon below the ground in organic matter and deep root systems. But they are overlooked in favour of forests.

Published - March 27, 2026 09:45 am IST

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