Semi-arid Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs), such as savanna grasslands and deserts, are unique ecosystems that make up more than 10% of India’s geographical area. They support natural resource-based livelihoods that contribute to India’s national economy and cultural heritage and have the potential to sequester high amounts of below-ground carbon while also harbouring rich and unique biodiversity. ONEs are found across the drier parts of western and central India, in states such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana.

ONEs, however, are often neglected by mainstream conservation narratives and misunderstood as degraded ecosystems or barren lands. Seventy per cent of ONEs in India still carry the colonial legacy of being classified as ‘wastelands'. This misclassification makes them vulnerable to land-use conversions and ignores the immense value these landscapes add in terms of faunal and floral biodiversity, socio-economic and cultural sustenance, climate adaptation and carbon sequestration. ONEs are a latent cornucopia* that can help meet India’s climate, rural livelihoods and development and biodiversity goals.

The aim of this white paper is to call for the government to institute a land management ethic for the conservation, restoration and management of India’s ONEs. The white paper showcases the significance of three aspects of India’s ONEs – people, carbon and biodiversity.