India launches grasslands guide at UNCCD COP17

India launched its first-ever Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) at the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on August 17, 2026. The guide highlights the ecological and socio-economic importance of India's grasslands, savannas, deserts, and other open ecosystems, covering their geography, biodiversity, and associated communities. It includes thematic sections on pastoralism, fire ecology, and carbon sequestration. Environment Minister Devender Yadav emphasized the need for science-based conservation of these ecosystems alongside forests. The publication was jointly organized by the India — Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management, India — Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, and the India — North Eastern Space Applications Centre of ISRO. The launch aims to support India's Land Degradation Neutrality targets and strengthen global discourse on land restoration.