First national guide covering all major open ecosystems of India.
Launched at the 17th United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification meeting in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Highlights ecological roles: biodiversity support, carbon sequestration, soil and water regulation.
Offers practical advice on restoration, fire ecology and sustainable land use for farmers and herders.
Produced by collaboration among India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, research institutes and international partners.
The guide, prepared with Indian and international research institutions, provides maps, ecological data and management recommendations to protect biodiversity, store carbon and support the livelihoods of pastoral communities.
Officials emphasize that science‑based conservation and restoration of these often‑overlooked landscapes are essential for climate resilience and achieving land‑degradation‑neutral goals.
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