Once Ruined, Old Grasslands Never Regrow The Same Way, Pg II

Key Highlights:

• A new global study reveals that ancient grasslands, once destroyed, cannot regenerate to their original state for at least a century.
• The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found secondary grasslands consist of different, taller species with altered ecological traits.
• Grasslands are crucial for supporting diverse wildlife, providing livelihoods for pastoralists, and storing one-third of Earth’s terrestrial carbon.
• Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune were part of the study.
• Indian conservationists advocate for a National Grassland Restoration Programme and a National Grazing Policy to protect these ecosystems.

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Detailed Insights:

• Old-growth grasslands are often undervalued and considered "wastelands," making them vulnerable to development, mining, and afforestation.
• The inability of grasslands to regenerate is due to altered ecological conditions, including changes in soil nutrients and pH levels.
• Secondary grasslands exhibit species that are more resource acquisitive, contrasting with the resource-conservative nature of old-growth flora.
• These secondary grasslands typically contain fewer plant species and may be dominated by non-native annuals.
• Successful restoration efforts in India have brought back endangered species in areas like the Thar Desert, Kutch, and Assam flood plains.
• India, despite having 15% of the world's livestock on 4% of its surface area, currently lacks a dedicated program or policy for grassland restoration.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Old-growth grasslands: Ecosystems that have developed over millennia, characterized by stable species composition and ecological processes.
• Secondary grasslands: Grasslands that have regrown after significant disturbance, often differing in species diversity and functional traits from their original state.
• Carbon sequestration: The process by which grasslands absorb and store atmospheric carbon dioxide, playing a vital role in climate regulation.
• Pastoralism: A traditional livelihood system dependent on grazing animals, directly supported by healthy grassland ecosystems.