Savannas and Grasslands of India: Misclassified, Undervalued and Threatened

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Science and Society

Savannas and Grasslands of India: Misclassified, Undervalued and Threatened

06:00 PM

October 07, 2023

Infosys Science Foundation

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Savannas and Grasslands of India: Misclassified, Undervalued and Threatened

Event

India’s open natural ecosystems, its grasslands and savannas, have long been perceived as degraded and unproductive. In this talk, ecologist Jayashree Ratnam will unpack the historical and geographical reasons for this misperception. She will then present evidence, to the contrary, that these ecosystems are ancient, biodiverse, culturally rich and highly productive. Today they are threatened by climate change mitigation initiatives such as green energy and tree planting. They are urgently in need of conservation and restoration action that explicitly values them for their uniqueness and distinct functional ecologies.

Note: The lecture will be followed by a tutorial session with the facilitator meant for young adults, early career researchers and other interested professionals between the age of 15-28. They can informally interact with the facilitator for deeper engagement with the lecture topic, learn about their career trajectory, and can ask other related questions in a non-judgemental, intimidation free environment.

Facilitators

Jayashree Ratnam

Director of Wildlife Biology and Conservation Program, NCBS