This paper critically examines the ecological, economic, and policy challenges facing pastoralism and grassland ecosystems in India, particularly in the context of climate change and evolving land-use pressures. Drawing upon a global literature, it contextualises Indian pastoralism and its grassland dynamics, highlighting the ecological factors shaping pastoralism across the country. A second section describes the pastoral economy, drawing attention to the often-underestimated size and scale of this enterprise. The paper then documents the historical mischaracterization of rangelands as wastelands. We argue that these ecosystems are vital for pastoral livelihoods and have unique biodiversity characteristics. The paper brings together existing research to counter the assumption that pastoralist grazing inevitably leads to degradation. We explore the interplay between climate change, pastoralist grazing practices and the condition of Indian grasslands. While we recognize the increasing trends in pastoralist sedentarization, we also note the remarkable resilience these communities have shown in the face of a sustained effort to settle them. We call for a range of measures aimed at creating a more supportive policy environment, additional research and public investment for India’s pastoral systems which are of immense ecological, social and economic significance.
Sheth et al. (Sat,) studied this question.