Kutch district, Gujarat
Banni Grassland
The Banni Grassland is one of the largest tropical grasslands of Asia, spanning more 2500 sq. kms. The biodiversity in Banni is truly marvelous, as it domiciles countless species of grasses, birds, reptiles and domesticated animals – including rare and threatened ones.
It has a long history of migratory pastoralism extending into parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Baluchistan. Today, more than 20 pastoralist communities – Maldharis – call Banni their traditional home and tend around 80,000 animals, most notably the Banni buffalo and the Kankrej cow.
Banni Grassland
The Banni Grassland is one of the largest tropical grasslands of Asia, spanning more 2500 sq. kms. The biodiversity in Banni is truly marvelous, as it domiciles countless species of grasses, birds, reptiles and domesticated animals – including rare and threatened ones.
It has a long history of migratory pastoralism extending into parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Baluchistan. Today, more than 20 pastoralist communities – Maldharis – call Banni their traditional home and tend around 80,000 animals, most notably the Banni buffalo and the Kankrej cow.
Since the 1960’s, two major events have changed the bio-physical landscape of Banni.
First, the forest department began planting the ganda baval tree (Prosopis Juliflora) on about 315 sq. kms., which has now spread to more than 60% of the grassland. Prosopis drastically affected the indigenous grass species and consequently led to a shift from the domination of the Kankrej cow to the Banni buffalo. It has also had an adverse effect on the Maldharis’ livelihoods.
The reason why the Prosopis was planted brings us to the second major transformation of the Banni landscape in the 1960’s. Dams were built on the rivers flowing through the Banni, leading to dramatically reduced water levels in the region. Inevitably, this caused excessive saline ingress from the neighboring Arabian sea, which was the reason cited by the Forest Department for inundating the area with Prosopis. In effect, to make up for one error, the government committed another.
First, the forest department began planting the ganda baval tree (Prosopis Juliflora) on about 315 sq. kms., which has now spread to more than 60% of the grassland. Prosopis drastically affected the indigenous grass species and consequently led to a shift from the domination of the Kankrej cow to the Banni buffalo. It has also had an adverse effect on the Maldharis’ livelihoods.
The reason why the Prosopis was planted brings us to the second major transformation of the Banni landscape in the 1960’s. Dams were built on the rivers flowing through the Banni, leading to dramatically reduced water levels in the region. Inevitably, this caused excessive saline ingress from the neighboring Arabian sea, which was the reason cited by the Forest Department for inundating the area with Prosopis. In effect, to make up for one error, the government committed another.
The Landing Together team documented the unique system of collective rights of Maldharis and their traditional knowledge about the landscape management, the land use change and the depletion of biodiversity caused by the plantation of Prosopis juliflora in Banni.
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Website design and development by Purabi Bose. ©purabibose October 2016
Website design and development by Purabi Bose. ©purabibose October 2016
