Banni Grasslands
In a new study named, ‘Maximizing ecological value and assessing land suitability for sustainable grassland management in Asia’s largest tropical grassland, Western India’ assessed the suitability of different areas of Banni for sustainable grassland restoration.
Key Highlights Of The Study on Banni Grasslands
- The study was conducted across the area of the Banni grassland.
- Sample: The researchers collected soil samples from 45 locations, and data for geomorphological analyses.
- The U.S. Sentinel 2 satellite and the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) provided data on slope, land use, and land cover
- Parameters: 20 parameters were analyzed comprising of characteristics like,
- Availability of soil nutrients, soil acidity, soil texture, soil organic carbon, salinity, the water holding capacity, cation exchange capacity, bulk density, and infiltration rate, land use and land cover, geomorphology, and land slope.
- Published In: The findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports
- Findings:
- Suitability for Restoration: They grouped the prospective restoration zones of the Banni grassland into five categories depending on how suitable each zone was for restoration.
- Highly Suitable: 937 sq. km (or 36%) of the existing grassland area
- Suitable: 728 sq. km (28 %) was suitable
- Moderately suitable: 714 sq. km (27%)
- Marginally suitable: 182 sq. km. (7%)
- Not suitable: 61 sq. km (2%)
- Easy Restoration: The “highly suitable” and “suitable” zones accounting for nearly two-thirds of the complete Banni grasslands can be restored easily either through irrigation or rainwater harvesting.
- Interventions for Restoration: The “marginally suitable” and “not suitable” zones can also be managed through interventions such as terracing with supplementary inputs like fertilizers and by protecting from high water run-off and erosion, and salt intrusion
- Significance:
- Action Plans for Conservation Efforts: The study could help in preparing action plans to conserve grasslands, in the context of climate change as they are a great source for sequestration of carbon dioxide.
- Evidence Based Restoration: The Study will generate evidence-based recommendations for sustainable grassland management, including biodiversity conservation and the enhancement of livelihoods for local communities.
- Bird species such as the great Indian bustard and the Bengal florican prefer to breed in grassland
- Guide Policymakers: The study provide a robust foundation for crafting policies aimed at protecting and rehabilitating degraded grasslands for the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and policymakers
- Encourage Sustainable land use: The Study is a detailed assessment of land suitability informing legal and regulatory frameworks to ensure sustainable land use and conservation practices
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Banni Grassland
- Origin: The word ‘Banni’ comes from the Hindi word ‘banai’, meaning made.
- The land here was formed from the sediments that were deposited by the Indus and other rivers over thousands of years
- Location: It is situated along the northern border of Kachchh district in the state of Gujarat
- It is among the largest 2 stretches of contiguous grassland in India.
- Area: These grasslands are spread over an area of 2618 km , and account for approximately 45% of the pastures in the state.
- Ecosystem: Banni consist of two ecosystems ie. wetlands and grasslands falling under the Dichahnthium-Cenchrus-Lasiurus type of grass cover.
- Protection Status: They are currently legally protected under the status as a protected or reserve forest in India.
- Tribes: The grassland has some forty Sindhi speaking Maldhari (cattle breeders) hamlets, home to the Halaypotra, Hingora, Hingorja, Jat and Mutwa tribes
- Flora: Dominant species include Cressa cretica, Cyperus spp., grasses in the genera Sporobolus, Dichanthium, and Aristida.
- Fauna: The grasslands are home to mammals such as the nilgai, chinkara, blackbuck, wild boar, golden jackal, Indian hare, Indian wolf, caracal, Asiatic wildcat and desert fox , The last Indian wild ass
- Threats:
- Encroachment: The grassland once covered an area of approximately 3,800 sq. km but it has now decreased to about 2,600 sq. km
- Disintegration of traditional management practices ie Banni grasslands were managed following a system of rotational grazing resulting in excessive pressure from livestock grazing
- Increased soil salinity leading to invasion of Prosopis juliflora
- Water scarcity, climate change and desertification.
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