Areas suitable for grassland restoration and conservation identified in Tropical Montane Grasslands (TMG)

Areas suitable for grassland restoration and conservation identified in Tropical Montane Grasslands (TMG)

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment

In news

• Tropical montane grasslands (TMG) in the Shola Sky Islands of the Western Ghats have suffered big reductions due to invasions by exotic trees. 
• However, researchers have now identified areas suitable for grassland restoration and conservation to reverse the decline.

Key takeaways 

• TMG are high elevation grasslands forming only 2% of all grasslands in the world.
• Function: Regulating the global carbon cycle and serving as a source of water to downstream communities.
• In India, TMG have been classified as wastelands in forest management plans since they are unlikely to generate revenue, contrary to the timber found in forests.

Do you know? 

• In the Western Ghats, 23% of montane grasslands were reportedly converted into invasive exotic tree cover over a period of 44 years.