OPEN ECOSYSTEMS
1. Context
Deserts are often imagined as failures of nature, and barren wastelands in need of redemption. This worldview fuels grand ambitions to “green” the desert, through afforestation, irrigation schemes, or even climate engineering. This gives way to the idea that deserts are broken ecosystems. So pervasive is this vilification, that land degradation is also known as “desertification”, and June 17 every year is celebrated as World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.
2. What is a desert?
- A dessert is the final course of a meal, typically served after the main dishes, and is usually sweet in flavor. It is meant to provide a pleasant and satisfying end to the dining experience.
- Desserts come in a wide variety of forms, including cakes, pastries, cookies, puddings, ice creams, custards, fruits, and confections such as chocolates or candies. In many cultures, desserts hold a special place not just in everyday meals but also in celebrations and festivals, where they are often prepared with extra care and tradition.
- The nature of desserts can vary greatly depending on geography, culture, and personal preference. For example, in Western cuisines, rich and indulgent desserts like cheesecakes or chocolate mousse are common, while in many Asian cuisines, desserts often involve ingredients like rice, coconut milk, or tropical fruits.
- In India, traditional sweets such as gulab jamun, rasgulla, or payasam are popular, often made with milk, ghee, and sugar, and flavored with cardamom, saffron, or nuts.
- Desserts are not only about taste—they often carry emotional and cultural significance. Many people associate them with comfort, celebration, and joy.
- Though primarily sweet, some desserts may include savory elements, spices, or textures that balance their flavors.
- With the rise of modern gastronomy, desserts have also become a space for innovation, where chefs experiment with presentation, flavors, and techniques to elevate them into art forms
| Deserts are, in fact, some of the planet’s most ancient, varied, and resilient ecosystems, intricately adapted to survive in extreme environments. Covering nearly one-third of the Earth’s land area, they support a remarkable range of plant and animal life, as well as human communities that have evolved unique ways of living in such climates. Despite their significance, deserts are often undervalued by people today—even though many of the world’s earliest civilizations, including those in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley, arose in arid regions. Interestingly, some historians suggest that the very challenges posed by desert landscapes spurred human innovation, leading to the development of advanced irrigation methods and complex social structures necessary for survival in these tough conditions |
3. What is an open space and indian spaces?
- Savannas, grasslands, and shrublands make up what are known as open ecosystems, which are typically defined by a continuous layer of grasses and little to no tree cover.
- In certain regions, however, the environment can also support scattered trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. The type and arrangement of vegetation in these ecosystems are largely influenced by broader environmental factors.
- Natural disturbances, such as fire and grazing by animals, have played a vital role in shaping and sustaining the dynamics of these ecosystems over time.
- Together, savannas and grasslands account for over half of the Earth’s terrestrial surface, extending across tropical, subtropical, and temperate zones.
- As a result, open ecosystems are incredibly diverse, encompassing a wide variety of landscapes and plant communities
Indian relationship with open spaces
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- India’s connection with open landscapes is marked by a striking contradiction. On one side, such spaces are idealized—real estate campaigns often showcase sprawling green lawns with aspirational names like Savana or Utopia.
- Yet, when it comes to the country’s own expansive natural open habitats—like grasslands, savannas, scrublands, and open woodlands—they are often neglected or worse, deliberately altered.
- Government records frequently label these ecosystems as "wastelands," a colonial-era classification that implies such land is unproductive and in need of improvement. In practice, this has meant converting these areas through afforestation, agriculture, or industrial development, rather than conserving them.
- This misclassification overlooks the ecological significance of these regions. India’s open ecosystems support rare and endemic species like the Great Indian Bustard, the caracal, and the Indian wolf. Unlike forests that store carbon in tall trees, these ecosystems store carbon primarily in their soil, playing a crucial role in climate regulation.
- These landscapes are also vital for millions of pastoralist communities—such as the Dhangar, Rabari, and Kuruba—who rely on them for grazing and livelihoods. When grasslands are enclosed or converted into artificial forests, it’s not only the natural ecosystem that suffers, but also the traditions, movement, and survival of these communities.
- In many cases, pastoralists serve as guardians of biodiversity and ecosystem balance. Yet, both India’s grasslands and the cultures that sustain them continue to receive inadequate recognition and protection in policy and practice
4. Significance of Open ecosystems
- Open ecosystems are not only important for their unique and ancient biodiversity but also for the vital ecological functions they perform. The vegetation in these landscapes plays a key role in regulating global environmental systems.
- It helps manage climate processes, controls environmental risks, and supports the health of natural resources by sustaining water availability and quality, sequestering carbon both above and below the ground, and supplying essential goods like food and fuel.
- These ecosystems also carry significant cultural and economic importance. They have supported human livelihoods for millennia and continue to do so today. In fact, it was within the grasslands and savannas of Africa that early humans first evolved.
- Over time, Indigenous communities around the world have shaped and maintained these ecosystems by using fire and managing animal populations. Societies across continents—whether in South America's Cerrado, North America's oak savannas, the Eurasian Steppes, or the vast open landscapes of Africa and Australia—maintain strong socio-cultural ties with these ecosystems, reflecting their deep-rooted historical and ecological relevance
5. Way forward
Instead of attempting to convert deserts into forests, we should focus on understanding how life flourishes in conditions of scarcity. This doesn't mean we should ignore land degradation, but efforts to restore drylands must be thoughtful—rooted in native ecosystems, emphasizing soil and water conservation, and incorporating traditional land stewardship practices. Simple, time-tested methods such as water harvesting, rotational grazing, and protecting natural regeneration often prove more effective than high-profile tree-planting schemes that claim to “green” deserts but may disrupt the natural balance.
Our policies must acknowledge the ecological richness of diverse ecosystems, encourage soil-based carbon storage, and promote land use systems that support pastoralist communities. Healthy deserts and savannas, with their complex food chains, seasonal cycles, and longstanding human connections, are vibrant and functional landscapes—much more so than poorly conceived monoculture plantations. It may even be time to reconsider the name of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, perhaps renaming it as the World Day to Combat Land Degradation, in order to restore dignity and recognition to deserts as vital ecosystems in their own right
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For Prelims: UNCCD, Extreme Weather events, Climate change
For Mains:
1. The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) plays a vital role in addressing global environmental challenges. Discuss the key functions of the UNCCD and critically evaluate its effectiveness in achieving its objectives. (250 words)
2. Extreme weather events pose a significant threat to the global economy. Explain how desertification and climate change contribute to the occurrence of extreme weather events. Suggest mitigation strategies to address these challenges. (250 words)
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Previous Year Questions
1. What is/are the importance/importances of the 'United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification'? (UPSC 2016)
1. It aims to promote effective action through innovative national programmes and supportive international partnerships.
2. It has a special/particular focus on South Asia and North Africa regions, and its Secretariat facilitates the allocation of a major portion of financial resources to these regions.
3. It is committed to a bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating desertification.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
A. 1 only B. 2 and 3 only C. 1 and 3 only D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: C
Mains
1. The process of desertification does not have climate boundaries. Justify with examples. (UPSC 2020)
2. In what way micro-watershed development projects help in water conservation in drought-prone and semi-arid regions of India? (UPSC 2016)
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Source: The Hindu
