🌾 India’s “Wastelands” Are Teeming with Life—Time to Call Them What They Are: Open Ecosystems

Across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Telangana and beyond, vast stretches with <10 % tree canopy are routinely mapped as wastelands—prime for dumping sites or industrial projects.

But these so‑called barren lands are, in fact, ancient open ecosystems that:

💚 Shelter unique species—from the 🪶 Great Indian Bustard and elusive caracal to the Indian wolf and specialised reptiles/insects.

🌡️ Regulate climate by storing carbon and reflecting heat.

🔄 Sustain delicate bio‑geochemical cycles in semi‑arid and desert regions.

When we label them “unproductive,” we green‑light habitat loss and push already fragile wildlife to the brink. The Supreme Court battle over Rajasthan’s Oran grasslands—and the bustard’s slide to Critically Endangered—shows what’s at stake.

What needs to change?

Update land‑use maps: Reclassify open ecosystems as ecologically significant, not wastelands.

Adopt tailored conservation plans instead of blanket “desert greening” tree‑planting drives that disrupt native flora and fauna.

Integrate biodiversity metrics into infrastructure approvals to prevent further habitat diversion.

Educate local communities & policymakers on the economic and ecological value of these landscapes.

India’s deserts and semi‑arid scrublands aren’t empty—they’re irreplaceable. Recognising and protecting them is essential for our biodiversity and climate resilience.

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#OpenEcosystems #Biodiversity #GreatIndianBustard #DesertConservation #LandUsePolicy #Sustainability #ClimateAction #HabitatProtection #Grasslands #IndiaEnvironment