India’s low-elevation semi-arid Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) cover approximately 10% of the country’s geographical area, totaling 3,19,675 sq. km. These ecosystems, including open savannas, shrublands, and deserts, support rural livelihoods and biodiversity, but have been historically undervalued and unrecognized. Despite their importance, less than 5% of ONEs fall under India’s Protected Areas Network, and many are being degraded due to land conversion, invasive plants, and climate change.
To address this issue, India has launched the Vision 2025-2030 for the National Red List Assessment (NRLA), a comprehensive framework to assess and monitor the conservation status of the country’s species. The Vision aims to evaluate the extinction risks of 11,000 species by 2030, aligning with global IUCN standards. The initiative focuses on overlooked habitats like grasslands, which nurture endemic flora and fauna vulnerable to habitat loss.
The Vision establishes a coordinated system for red listing, prioritizing species based on endemicity, protection status, trade pressures, and ecological roles. The Botanical Survey of India (BSI) will create a National Red Data Book on grasses, recognizing their importance in anchoring open ecosystems and storing carbon. The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) will target high-priority groups like birds and mammals, including the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard and the Indian wolf.
The Vision’s assessments will provide concrete data for key indicators under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), enabling India to report on its progress towards meeting the framework’s targets. The initiative also aligns with IUCN ambitions to assess 94,000 more species by 2030, contributing to the Global Species Action Plan and Sustainable Development Goal 15.
Recent IUCN updates have highlighted the vulnerabilities of grassland species, with four bird species inhabiting ONEs in India being ‘uplisted’ due to increased concerns regarding their population trends. The Indian wolf has also been evaluated as a separate entity from the broader grey wolf species, with estimates suggesting only 3,093 individuals remain across India and Pakistan.
The Vision marks progress in India’s conservation policy, which has historically leaned towards forests. However, the initiative invites constructive evolution in policy, with the potential to integrate biome-specific guidelines and redirect resources to restore native grasses and involve pastoral communities. The assessments promise direct, actionable outcomes for ONEs, including challenging the “wasteland” classification, designating new Key Biodiversity Areas, and establishing biome-specific management guidelines.
Overall, the Vision has tremendous potential to safeguard India’s ecosystems, particularly its grasslands, by bridging science and policy. By prioritizing these habitats, India can meet its global commitments and secure a resilient future for its unique biodiversity and dependent communities.