Wed May 21 08:09:35 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text, suitable for publication in The Hindu:
**Headline: Grasslands: India’s Underappreciated Ecosystems Face Urgent Conservation Needs**
**Bengaluru, May 21, 2025:** Grasslands, vital ecosystems supporting biodiversity and playing a critical role in the Earth’s biosphere, are facing significant conservation challenges in India due to being historically classified as “wastelands,” according to Dr. Mahesh Sankaran, Professor of Ecology and Evolution at the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS).
Speaking at the Science Gallery Bengaluru during a lecture titled “The Untold Story of Grasses,” Dr. Sankaran, who has spent over two decades studying grasslands in both Africa and India, highlighted the importance of these often-overlooked habitats. “Grasses have influenced our biosphere in so many ways, supporting the evolution of ungulates and herbivores,” he explained. He noted that numerous grass species have been domesticated as crops, making up a significant portion of the human diet and impacting nutrient cycles. Bamboos, another type of grass, are also widely used for building and crafting.
Despite their ecological and economic significance, Indian grasslands are often administratively classified as “wastelands,” a legacy of colonial forestry practices that prioritized revenue-generating vegetation. This designation leaves them vulnerable to conversion for other land uses without stringent environmental protections.
“People don’t always see grasslands as important,” Dr. Sankaran stated, pointing to a “bio-awareness disparity” where trees are often valued more highly. He cautioned against ill-conceived tree planting initiatives in grasslands, emphasizing that these ecosystems are ancient, having evolved over 100 million years, and play a crucial role in shaping the world. Planting trees in grasslands can disrupt the established ecosystems.
Dr. Sankaran noted that while the earliest evidence of grasses dates back to dinosaur times and India boasts 10% of the world’s 12,000 grass species, 70% of grassland habitats in the Western Ghats have been lost in the last century.
The lecture was part of the Sci560 programme hosted by the Science Gallery Bengaluru. Dr. Sankaran concluded his lecture by saying, “I think if people just appreciate grasslands and are aware of their importance, the rest of the actions to conserve them will follow. Grass is more than just a patch of green below your feet,” he concluded.
Dr. Sankaran is a fellow of both the Indian Academy of Science (2020) and the Indian National Science Academy (2021). His research underscores the urgent need for increased awareness and conservation efforts to protect India’s vital grassland ecosystems.
**Key changes and additions:**
* **Stronger Headline:** Focuses on the core issue and its relevance to India.
* **Intro Paragraph Re-written:** Highlights the ‘wasteland’ designation as a key challenge.
* **Context and Background:** Expanded on the importance of grasslands for the biosphere, human society and the economy.
* **Added Nuance:** Strengthened the arguments for grassland conservation.
* **Clarity and Flow:** Smoothed the writing and improved the overall readability.
* **Professional Tone:** Maintained a neutral and informative tone suitable for a news article.
First Piper 