India's proposed reintroduction of cheetahs into the Banni grasslands of Gujarat was highlighted at the 17th Conference of Parties (CoP17) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), currently under way in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The reference came as India made the case for recognising rangelands as critical ecosystems that sustain pastoralist communities, conserve biodiversity, and regulate water and carbon cycles.

The Banni Cheetah Plan

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has cleared the transfer of four cheetahs — two pairs — from Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh to the Banni grasslands, located on the northern fringe of the Great Rann of Kutch. An enclosure has already been constructed at the site, and prey animals have been released there in preparation for the big cats' arrival.

Banni supports more than 60 species of grass and is stewarded by the Maldharis — a pastoralist community spread across 19 panchayats whose buffaloes and Kankrej cattle have grazed these lands for over 400 years. Notably, the grasslands were once severely degraded by the spread of an invasive tree species; it was the Maldharis who led restoration efforts on the ground.

What India Said at CoP17

Addressing the ministerial dialogue on 'Restoration of Rangelands and the Well-being of Pastoralist Communities,' Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav underscored India's approach of combining scientific planning with community participation. 'Successful restoration begins with pastoralists as custodians, not merely beneficiaries,' he said, adding that blending traditional knowledge with modern science can yield restoration that is 'ecologically sound, economically viable and socially inclusive.'

Yadav noted that India's rangelands span Himalayan pastures, Central Indian savannas, the arid Thar and Kachchh regions, and Southern sholas, collectively sustaining the country's vast livestock and human populations. Satellite-based Desertification and Land Degradation atlases, he said, provide a scientific basis for mapping these ecosystems and planning restoration.

Sacred Groves and Community Stewardship

Yadav cited the Orans of Rajasthan — sacred groves revered and protected by local communities — as a model of community stewardship. 'Around 25,000 such community-protected sacred groves, covering around 0.6 million hectares across the country, exemplify community stewardship while also securing pastoral land rights and conserving critical habitats, including those of the Great Indian Bustard,' he said. Many of these groves are protected under statutory provisions.

Carbon, Water, and the Finance Gap

The minister highlighted that deep-rooted grasses across India's approximately 10 million hectares of permanent pastures and grazing lands contribute to soil carbon storage, enhance water infiltration, and support groundwater recharge. As developing nations work toward Land Degradation Neutrality, Yadav called for enhanced access to finance, technology, and knowledge. 'India welcomes dedicated, accessible financing for rangeland restoration, and stands ready to share its experience and solutions through South-South cooperation,' he said.

The Banni cheetah transfer, if executed, would mark a significant expansion of India's cheetah reintroduction programme beyond Kuno, with the success of the Banni model potentially shaping how pastoralist-led conservation is scaled across the subcontinent.