Why in News?
The Banni Grasslands in Gujarat are in the news due to the dual development of accelerated preparations to launch India's first Cheetah Conservation Breeding Centre and widespread local protests against NTPC's proposed green hydrogen/solar project.
Important Points
- Cheetah Reintroduction Era: The National Tiger Conservation Authority approved moving African cheetahs to Banni, establishing a 600-hectare specialized enclosure. The state government allocated ₹14.70 crore to plant grass across 5,000 hectares to reinforce the prey base.
- Green Energy Conflict: A massive protest was launched by the indigenous Fakirani Jat and Maldhari pastoral communities against a massive solar project proposed by NTPC Renewable Energy Limited.
- Ecological Threat: The proposed renewable energy project stands dangerously close to the Chhari Dhand wetland conservation reserve, leading to fears of disrupted migratory bird routes and lost community grazing commons.
- Triple Felid Landmark: This project sets Gujarat up to become the only state in India housing three major apex felines: Asiatic Lions, Leopards, and Cheetahs.
Geographical & Ecological Profile
- Location: Situated on the outer southern edge of the desert marshy salt flats of the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat.
- Scale: Spans approximately 3,847 square kilometres, accounting for nearly 45% of all pasturelands in the state of Gujarat.
- Dual Ecosystem: Represents a unique landscape where vast, low-lying arid grasslands blend seamlessly with seasonal freshwater wetlands.
- Kiro Hill Anchor: Features an extinct volcano (Kiro Hill) rich in fossils that serves as an essential ecological refuge during summer wildfires and monsoon flooding.
Rich Biodiversity & Wildlife
- Flora Diversity: Contains 37 distinctive grass species dominated by salt-tolerant halophiles.
- Avian Haven: Acts as a major transit rest stop along global migratory bird paths; nearby Chhari Dhand wetland hosts over 250 species of resident and migratory birds.
- Mammalian Habitat: Home to the Chinkara, Blackbuck, Nilgai, Golden Jackal, Caracal, Desert Fox, and the endangered Indian Wolf.
Cultural & Anthropological Heritage
- Pastoral Communities: Inhabited by 22 distinct ethnic pastoralist groups, most notably the Maldharis, Rabaris, and the Fakirani Jats.
- The Banni Buffalo: Famously home to the indigenous Banni (Kutchi) Buffalo, a unique breed capable of grazing at night to avoid harsh daylight heat, producing exceptionally high milk yields.
- Forest Rights: Legally declared a Protected Forest, with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) upholding the rights of the Maldharis to manage the community forest resources.
Key Ecological Concerns
- Invasive Alien Attack: Heavily threatened by the rapid spread of Prosopis juliflora (locally called Gando Baval), a non-native thorny shrub introduced decades ago that suffocates local sweet grasses.
- Targeted Elimination: The Forest Department has cleared Prosopis juliflora from roughly 6,300 hectares to deliberately restore the original grassland balance.
- Land Encroachment: Facing increased vulnerability due to poor grass pasture governance and modern industrial boundaries cutting into traditional nomadic pathways.
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