WasteLands/Green deserts

Why in News? The discussion around India’s open ecosystems, particularly deserts, grasslands, savannas, and scrublands, has gained attention due to growing awareness of their ecological and cultural significance, as highlighted in the article by Abi Tamim Vanak and Anuja Malhotra. These ecosystems, often misclassified as “wastelands,” are critical for biodiversity, carbon storage, and the livelihoods of pastoral communities.

Relevance : UPSC Pre &  Mains

Prelims : wastelands

Mains: GS 3 Biodiversity/Ecology

Key Points from the Article

1. Misconception of Deserts as Wastelands:

• Deserts are often wrongly perceived as barren or failed ecosystems, leading to terms like “desertification” to describe land degradation. This negative framing fuels misguided efforts to “green” deserts through afforestation or irrigation, ignoring their natural resilience and ecological value.
• Deserts are ancient, diverse biomes occupying nearly one-third of Earth’s terrestrial surface, supporting unique species and human cultures. Historically, desert conditions fostered early civilizations like those in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley, which developed sophisticated irrigation systems to thrive.

2. Importance of Open Ecosystems in India

• India’s open ecosystems, including deserts, grasslands, savannas, scrublands, and open woodlands, are biodiversity hotspots hosting endemic species like the Great Indian Bustard, caracal, and Indian wolf.
• These ecosystems store significant carbon in their soils, contributing to climate regulation, unlike forests that store carbon primarily in trees.
• Despite their ecological importance, these lands are often labeled as “wastelands” on official maps, a colonial-era classification that deems them unproductive and targets them for conversion to agriculture, industry, or plantations.

3. Dependence of Pastoral Communities

• Millions of pastoralist communities, such as the Dhangar, Rabari, and Kuruba, rely on these open ecosystems for grazing livestock, which is central to their livelihoods and cultural identity.
• These communities are not just dependent on these lands but also act as stewards of biodiversity, maintaining ecosystem health through traditional practices like rotational grazing.
• Interventions like fencing grasslands or converting them into forests disrupt pastoralists’ mobility, local knowledge systems, and economic stability.

4. Policy Failures and Erasure of Open Ecosystems

• India’s policy framework has historically neglected open ecosystems, prioritizing afforestation or industrial development over their preservation. This has led to the systematic erasure of grasslands and savannas.
• The colonial legacy of classifying these lands as “wastelands” persists, undermining their ecological and cultural value and justifying their transformation.

5. Proposed Solutions for Sustainable Management

• The article advocates for rethinking restoration strategies to respect the native vegetation and ecological dynamics of drylands. Low-tech solutions like water harvesting, rotational grazing, and protecting natural regrowth are more effective than large-scale tree-planting initiatives.
• Policies should recognize the diversity of ecosystems, promote soil carbon storage, and support pastoralist land-use practices.
• A rebranding of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought to “World Day to Combat Land Degradation” is suggested to shift focus from vilifying deserts to addressing actual degradation while respecting their ecological role.

6. Cultural and Ecological Value of Deserts:

• Deserts and open ecosystems are not barren but vibrant, with intricate food webs, seasonal rhythms, and cultural significance. They are far more sustainable than monoculture plantations, which often fail in arid conditions.
• Learning from indigenous knowledge and adapting to the natural constraints of these ecosystems can lead to more resilient and sustainable land management practices.

Why India must Recognize Its Open Ecosystems India must recognize its open ecosystems to protect biodiversity, support pastoralist livelihoods, and enhance climate resilience. Misclassifying these lands as “wastelands” leads to their destruction, threatening species, carbon storage, and the well-being of communities. By valuing these ecosystems and integrating indigenous knowledge into policy, India can foster sustainable development that respects both nature and culture.

What are Wastelands?

Wastelands are areas of land that are degraded, underutilized, or unproductive due to natural or human-induced factors. They often cannot support significant agricultural, ecological, or economic activity without substantial intervention. Here’s a concise breakdown:

Types of Wastelands:

Barren and Rocky Land: Areas with exposed rock, sand, or gravel, lacking vegetation (e.g., deserts or rocky terrains).

Degraded Farmland: Overused or eroded agricultural land with depleted soil fertility.

Saline/Alkaline Land: Soils with high salt or alkali content, unsuitable for crops.

Waterlogged/Marshy Land: Areas with excessive water, hindering cultivation or development.

Eroded Land: Land affected by wind or water erosion, often in hilly or deforested regions.

Abandoned/Mined Land: Areas left unproductive after mining or industrial activities.