Maharashtra Government’s new GR marks a Turning Point for Grassland Ecosystems - TGT's take on how local residents can help in grassland conservation on basis of this GR

May 7
3 min read

Click the following attachment to download the Maharashtra state government resolution published on 7th May 2026:

Summary: Maharashtra government’s new Green Maharashtra Commission GR says - grasslands and wetlands are meant to be protected, not planted with trees. Swipe through the below message or attached images to see the clauses, and find out how you as a resident can write to your local forest/revenue department officer if you know a patch of grassland that needs protecting.

Message from team TGT:

A Significant Policy Milestone for Grassland Conservation

We are pleased to share an important policy development for the conservation of Maharashtra's native grasslands.

The Grasslands Trust, along with partner organisations working on grassland ecosystems and herder communities, participated in a high-level meeting chaired by Shri Praveensing Pardeshi (CEO, Maharashtra Institution for Transformation and Chief Economic Advisor to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra) on 11 November 2025. The meeting focused on challenges faced by herder communities and highlighted the need for conserving and restoring Maharashtra's savanna grasslands through a collaborative approach involving grassland and wolf conservation, habitat restoration, responsible tourism, and grassland mapping.

The meeting initiated a series of consultations among government departments, research institutions, and civil society organisations, culminating in the Government Resolution (GR) issued on 7 May 2026 establishing the Green Maharashtra Commission to guide the state's 300-crore-tree plantation mission through 2047. Importantly, the GR adopts a science-based approach by recognising that natural grasslands and wetlands require restoration rather than afforestation, ensuring that ecosystem-specific management is integrated into Maharashtra's landscape restoration efforts.

Several provisions of the GR closely align with The Grasslands Trust's ongoing work.

Recognition of Grasslands as Natural Ecosystems

Page 5, Clause 14 states that identified grasslands and wetlands should be restored as natural ecosystems instead of being planted with trees. It also recognises natural grassland regeneration in suitable degraded areas and acknowledges the carbon sequestration value of these restored ecosystems.

This is an important policy recognition that native grasslands are valuable ecosystems and should not be treated as degraded forests or wastelands.

Native Species, Nurseries and Seed Banks

Page4, Clauses 7 and 11 promote the use of native species, ecosystem restoration models, and the establishment of nurseries and seed banks at Grampanchayat level.

These provisions strongly complement The Grasslands Trust's efforts to establish and expand a native grassland nursery and seed bank at Gulunche, creating the resources needed for scientific grassland restoration.

Scientific Identification of Grasslands

The Page 4, Clause 8 of the GR also requires ground-truthing before land is included in tree plantation programmes. Eligibility criteria are based on canopy density (below 0.4) and soil depth (above 30 cm), meaning grassland areas cannot simply be designated “wasteland” or “degraded” without on-the-ground verification.

Supporting this effort, The Grasslands Trust is currently mapping and conducting ecological surveys of native grasslands across western Maharashtra. This work will help identify priority grasslands, support scientific decision-making, and prevent ecologically important landscapes from being converted into plantations.

Advancing Grassland Conservation Through Policy

This Government Resolution provides a strong policy framework for conserving and restoring Maharashtra's grasslands through science-based management.

We acknowledge the collective efforts of individuals and organisations that have contributed to this important milestone, particularly our partners Living Lightly, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and The Environment, Centre for Pastoralism, and the leadership, understanding of the topic and guidance of Mr. Praveen Singh Pardeshi, whose support for ecosystem-based management has been instrumental in advancing this dialogue.

The Way Forward

The next important step is to develop scientific restoration strategies for these landscapes.

Through our ongoing collaboration with donors, The Grasslands Trust is collecting ecological data and mapping grasslands across multiple districts of Maharashtra. This work will generate the scientific evidence needed to develop restoration principles and provide practical recommendations that support the implementation of the Government Resolution.

We look forward to working with donors, government agencies, local communities, and partner organisations to ensure that Maharashtra's native grasslands are conserved and restored using sound scientific principles.

Warm regards,

Team, The Grasslands Trust

TGT's take on the GR (see the below images)

Free-ranging dog chasing Chinkara: Photo by Vishal Mane.

English: