India Calls for Community-Led Restoration of Rangelands at UNCCD CoP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

At the 17th Conference of Parties (CoP17) of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, India called for community-led rangeland restoration rooted in science, secure tenure, and community stewardship. Union Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav highlighted India's diverse rangelands—spanning Himalayan pastures, Central Indian savannas, the Thar and Kachchh regions, and Southern sholas—and noted the use of satellite-based mapping and community forest resource rights. He cited traditional conservation systems such as Orans in Rajasthan, covered India's ecosystem restoration efforts like cheetah reintroduction, and called for enhanced access to finance, technology, and knowledge for developing countries to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality.