Archive · 26 Aug 2026
India urges community-led rangeland restoration at UNCCD CoP17
India told an international meeting that grasslands and grazing lands should be restored with help from local communities.
Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said pastoralists should be treated as protectors of these lands, not just people who receive benefits.
He said traditional knowledge should be combined with modern science.
India uses satellite maps to understand damaged land and plan restoration.
The country also recognises some grazing and community forest rights.
Yadav mentioned sacred groves in Rajasthan that local people protect.
Healthy grasslands can help store carbon, absorb water and support animals and people.
India asked developing countries to receive more money, technology and knowledge for this work.
Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav called for community-led, science-based rangeland restoration at UNCCD CoP17.
Yadav said pastoralists should be recognised as custodians and placed at the centre of restoration efforts.
India uses satellite-based land-degradation atlases, community rights and traditional conservation systems to guide land management.
The ministry cited about 25,000 community-protected sacred groves covering approximately 0.6 million hectares across India.
Yadav called for accessible finance, technology and knowledge, and offered India’s experience through South-South cooperation.
- Who
- India, represented by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, addressed the UNCCD ministerial dialogue.
- What
- India called for community-led and science-based restoration of rangelands, with pastoralists recognised as ecosystem custodians.
- When
- During the 17th Conference of Parties of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification; no specific date was provided.
- Where
- Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
- Why
- To support sustainable land management, pastoralist well-being, biodiversity conservation and progress toward Land Degradation Neutrality.
- Conference
- 17th Conference of Parties of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification
- Location
- Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Minister
- Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- Indian rangelands
- Approximately 10 million hectares of permanent pastures and grazing lands
- Sacred groves
- Around 25,000 community-protected groves covering approximately 0.6 million hectares
- Restoration tools
- Satellite-based Desertification and Land Degradation Atlases, community participation and traditional knowledge
- India’s request
- Dedicated, accessible financing, technology and knowledge for rangeland restoration