IMPORTANCE OF GRASSLAND
This article argues that grasslands and savannahs are critical yet neglected components of global climate strategy, which currently focuses too heavily on forests.
key themes:
1. Ecological and Climate Significance
* Carbon Sequestration: Grasslands are vital carbon sinks. Unlike forests, they store much of their carbon underground, making it more secure during wildfires.
* Interdependence: Biomes are linked; for example, the destruction of the Brazilian Cerrado (savannah) directly threatens the water systems that sustain the Amazon rainforest.
2. The "Wasteland" Perception & Threats
* Policy Neglect: Many governments incorrectly categorize grasslands as "wastelands." This leads to them being diverted for industrial use or "misguided" afforestation (planting trees where they don't belong), which can actually destroy the existing ecosystem.
* Key Threats: These include agricultural expansion, invasive species (like buffel grass), and the suppression of Indigenous land management practices like controlled burning.
3. Fragmentation in Governance
* Institutional Silos: There is a lack of coordination between the three "Rio Conventions" (Climate Change, Biodiversity, and Desertification).
* The Indian Example: In India, grasslands are managed by up to 18 different ministries with competing goals. While the Environment Ministry focuses on trees, the Rural Development Ministry's "Wasteland Atlas" marks grasslands for conversion to other uses.
4. Proposed Solutions
* Integration into NDCs: Grasslands must be explicitly included in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
* Social Justice: Mainstreaming grassland protection requires recognizing the land rights of Indigenous people and pastoralists who have managed these lands sustainably for generations.
* Scientific Multilateralism: Moving away from "forestry-only" sequestration models to a more holistic approach that values open ecosystems.
Key Fact for Exams:
The UN has declared 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, providing a window to fix these policy gaps.