Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) are naturally open habitats in which grasses, herbs, shrubs, sparse trees, bare ground or seasonal water occur in different combinations. Grasslands, savannas and deserts are ecosystems in their own right; low tree cover does not by itself mean that land is degraded.

Basic Details

  • Ecosystem group: Naturally open terrestrial and coastal habitats, including grasslands, savannas, scrublands, deserts, rocky outcrops, ravines and some saline or seasonally wet areas.
  • Distribution: Found across India, from Himalayan meadows and Terai floodplains to the Thar, Banni, Deccan plateaus, Western Ghats and coastal landscapes.
  • Related term: “Rangeland” describes land used for grazing, not one ecosystem type; it can include grassland, scrub, woodland or desert.
  • Protection: There is no single conservation status for all ONEs. Legal protection depends on the site, ecosystem and species.

Types

  • Himalayan and alpine grasslands: High-altitude meadows shaped by cold, elevation and seasonal snow.
  • Terai and riverine grasslands: Tall grass habitats shaped by floods, sediment and water regimes.
  • Arid and semi-arid systems: Thar grasslands, scrub and dry savannas, including Banni in Kachchh.
  • Deccan and rocky systems: Seasonal grasslands, savannas, lateritic plateaus and shallow-soil outcrops.
  • Shola–grassland and coastal mosaics: Western Ghats montane grasslands interspersed with shola forest, and open coastal or saline habitats. The shola–grassland mosaic is a natural ecosystem, not a forest awaiting tree planting; a Western Ghats study documents this mosaic.

Characteristics and Habits

  • Locally shaped openness: Rainfall, soil, hydrology, altitude and disturbance determine whether a landscape is grassland, savanna or scrub. No single structure or management rule fits every site.
  • Seasonal growth and deep roots: Many grasses grow quickly in the wet season and survive dry periods through roots, seeds or underground parts. Their roots hold soil and store much of the ecosystem's carbon below ground.
  • Fire and grazing: Both can shape these ecosystems, but their effects vary by place. Neither blanket fire suppression nor uncontrolled burning and grazing is a universal approach.
Relationships shaping open ecosystems: rainfall, soil and hydrology interact with grazing and fire to influence the balance of grasses, shrubs and trees.
The open structure of each grassland reflects local climate, soils, water and disturbance; no single management rule fits every site.

Ecological Significance

  • Biodiversity: Native open habitats support species adapted to grass cover, sparse shrubs, visibility or rocky refuge, including the Great Indian Bustard, floricans, blackbuck and Indian wolf in suitable landscapes.
  • Soil and water: Native vegetation can reduce erosion, slow runoff and support infiltration; outcomes depend on local soil, rainfall and land use.
  • Livelihoods: Many ONEs are commons that support pastoralism, fodder, livestock and local knowledge. Conservation affects people's access to grazing land.
Illustration of India’s grasslands and other open natural ecosystems, showing biodiversity, soil carbon, water recharge and pastoral livelihoods.
Open natural ecosystems connect biodiversity, soil and water processes with local livelihoods.

Threats

  • Misclassification and tree planting: Calling natural grassland “wasteland” or degraded forest can lead to plantations that replace native open habitat.
  • Conversion and fragmentation: Agriculture, mining, urban growth, roads and power infrastructure reduce or divide habitats.
  • Ecological change: Invasive woody plants, altered fire or grazing, and changes in rainfall and water use can change habitat structure and species composition.

Conservation Initiatives

  • Map before restoration: Identify ecosystem type, native species, soil, water regime and community use before selecting a remedy. Restore the right ecosystem, not simply more tree cover.
  • Place-specific management: Base grazing, fire and invasive-species management on local evidence, with participation and fair access for communities.
  • India's ONEs Guide: India's first Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems was launched at UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar on 17 August 2026. Led by ATREE under MoEFCC guidance, it documents ecosystem types, biodiversity and community links to improve conservation and restoration planning.

Source: Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.