CSIP: PRELIMS BOOSTER SERIES-356 INDIAN GEOGRAPHY
BANNI GRASSLAND
Why in news: The central government has approved a proposal to establish a cheetah conservation breeding centre in Gujarat’s Kutch district’s Banni grassland.
| Aspect | Details |
| · Location | · Banni Grassland is situated near the Great Rann of Kutch in
Gujarat. |
| · Size | · It is considered to be the largest Grassland in Asia, spreading
over2,618 kilometres and accounting for almost 45% of the pastures in Gujarat. |
| · Formation | · The land in Banni was formed from the sediments deposited
by the Indus and other rivers over thousands of years. |
| · Ecosystem | · Two ecosystems, wetlands, and grasslands, coexist in Banni. |
|
· Vegetation |
The vegetation is sparse and highly dependent on rainfall. It is
dominated by low-growing forbs and graminoids, many of which are halophiles(salt-tolerant). · The grasslands were traditionally managed by a system of rotational grazing. |
| · Flora and Fauna | · Rich biodiversity with 192 species of plants, 262 species of birds,
several species of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. It is also known for the Banni breed of buffaloes |
| · Reserve Forest Status | · In 1955, the court notified the grassland as a reserve forest.
In 2019, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered to demarcation of the boundaries of Banni grassland and restricted non-forest activities. |
|
· Most of the livestock keepers in Banni belong to the Maldhari community. They rear the Banni or Sindhi buffalo, Kankrej cattle, sheep, goats, horses, donkeys and camels |
|
| · Significance | · The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has identified Banni Grassland
as one of the last remaining habitats of the cheetah in India. |
