India, Aug. 18 -- The first-ever 'Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) of India' was launched at the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Mongolia's Ulaanbaatar on Monday.

From the grasslands in central Nicobar and the red sands of Tamil Nadu (Theri Kaadu) to the Aravalli scrublands of Rajasthan, the ravine lands of the Yamuna-Chambal zone and the rocky plateaus of the northern Western Ghats, the guide lists grasslands and open natural ecosystems that sustain wildlife in biodiversity hotspots.

The Union environment ministry said the guide highlights the rich diversity, ecological significance and socio-economic importance of In...