India’s grasslands and savannas are among the most overlooked and misrepresented ecosystems in the country. Frequently labelled as “wastelands,” these open natural ecosystems have been systematically excluded from biodiversity policy, targeted for tree plantations, infrastructure, and renewable energy projects, and widely misunderstood in both public and scientific discourse. Yet grassland ecosystems support exceptional grassland biodiversity, sustain millions of pastoral livelihoods, and play a critical role in Indian biodiversity and long-term biodiversity conservation.
In this episode of The Think Wildlife Podcast, Anish Banerjee speaks with Dr. Abi T. Vanak, conservation scientist and Director of the Centre for Policy Design at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE). Dr. Vanak’s work focuses on grassland ecology, grassland biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration, and the science–policy interface shaping land-use decisions across India.
The conversation examines what grasslands and other open natural ecosystems truly are, and how grassland ecology differs fundamentally from forest systems. Dr. Vanak explains how colonial-era land classifications and post-independence governance frameworks led to grasslands being misidentified as degraded forests or wastelands, a misconception that continues to influence grassland conservation, compensatory afforestation, and land-use planning today.
We discuss how this misclassification has had severe consequences for grassland biodiversity, particularly for species such as the Indian wolf, blackbuck, Great Indian Bustard, and lesser florican. Despite receiving high levels of legal protection, these species continue to decline because their grassland habitats fall largely outside protected areas and mainstream biodiversity conservation frameworks.
The episode also explores the ecological and economic importance of pastoralism, the contribution of extensive livestock systems to Indian biodiversity, and the deep connections between pastoral livelihoods, grassland biodiversity conservation, and resilient landscapes. Dr. Vanak shares insights from grassland restoration projects across India, demonstrating how science-based grassland restoration can improve soil carbon, water availability, and biodiversity outcomes, often more effectively than tree-based approaches.
We also examine the expansion of renewable energy infrastructure, particularly solar and wind projects, and how poorly planned siting can fragment grassland ecosystems and undermine biodiversity conservation goals. The discussion extends to mesocarnivore ecology, the impacts of free-ranging dogs on wildlife, disease and hybridization risks for Indian wolves, and the broader challenge of conserving biodiversity in human-dominated landscapes.
Throughout the episode, Dr. Vanak argues for a shift away from forest-centric conservation towards landscape-level, community-led approaches that recognize grasslands as vital ecosystems. This conversation highlights why grassland conservation, grassland restoration, and evidence-based biodiversity policy are essential for safeguarding Indian biodiversity in the coming decades.
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