Why is restoring grasslands as ecosystems as important as reforesting degraded woodlands? What are the barriers to grassland conservation in India? Propose measures to mainstream grassland ecology in forest planning.
Kartavya Desk Staff
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Q6. Why is restoring grasslands as ecosystems as important as reforesting degraded woodlands? What are the barriers to grassland conservation in India? Propose measures to mainstream grassland ecology in forest planning. (15 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: DTE
Why the question: The Uttarakhand Forest Department’s shift toward restoring grasslands in elephant corridors has revived attention on India’s neglected savanna ecosystems and their conservation value. Key Demand of the question: The question requires explaining the ecological importance of grasslands, identifying challenges specific to their conservation in India, and suggesting actionable reforms to incorporate them into forest and environmental policy. Structure of the Answer: Introduction: Mention how grasslands, though vital for biodiversity and climate resilience, remain institutionally invisible compared to forests in India’s conservation agenda. Body: Why grassland restoration matters: They host keystone species, regulate carbon cycles, and support pastoralist livelihoods like forests do, but often with higher ecological efficiency in dry zones. Barriers to conservation: Grasslands are misclassified as wastelands, excluded from forest reporting, and receive little institutional or legal attention, making them vulnerable to degradation. Measures to mainstream ecology: Reforms include legal recognition of grasslands, a national mission for mapping and restoration, and inclusion in afforestation and forest working plans. Conclusion: Restoring India’s grasslands is essential for ecological balance, requiring a shift from tree-centric to ecosystem-based conservation planning.
Why the question: The Uttarakhand Forest Department’s shift toward restoring grasslands in elephant corridors has revived attention on India’s neglected savanna ecosystems and their conservation value.
Key Demand of the question: The question requires explaining the ecological importance of grasslands, identifying challenges specific to their conservation in India, and suggesting actionable reforms to incorporate them into forest and environmental policy.
Structure of the Answer:
Introduction: Mention how grasslands, though vital for biodiversity and climate resilience, remain institutionally invisible compared to forests in India’s conservation agenda.
• Why grassland restoration matters: They host keystone species, regulate carbon cycles, and support pastoralist livelihoods like forests do, but often with higher ecological efficiency in dry zones.
• Barriers to conservation: Grasslands are misclassified as wastelands, excluded from forest reporting, and receive little institutional or legal attention, making them vulnerable to degradation.
• Measures to mainstream ecology: Reforms include legal recognition of grasslands, a national mission for mapping and restoration, and inclusion in afforestation and forest working plans.
Conclusion: Restoring India’s grasslands is essential for ecological balance, requiring a shift from tree-centric to ecosystem-based conservation planning.