Assam's First Grass Nursery: A Green Leap for Manas National Park

Assam's first dedicated grass nursery has been inaugurated at Manas National Park's Bansbari Range to support grassland restoration. Spanning 1 hectare, the nursery houses 16 native grass species, aiming to address the drastic loss of grassland cover and strengthen ecological restoration for critical wildlife habitats.

In a significant step toward preserving Assam's endangered grassland ecosystems, the state's first dedicated grass nursery was inaugurated at the Bansbari Range of Manas National Park. The nursery, developed over an area of approximately 1 hectare, has been financially supported by State CAMPA. It aims to serve as a long-term seed source for the restoration and expansion of grasslands across Manas and other protected areas in Assam.

The inaugural event was graced by top officials including Vinay Gupta, IFS, PCCF (Wildlife) & Chief Wildlife Warden, Assam, and Suman Mohapatra, IFS, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. Joining them were H Rajamohan, IFS, Field Director of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, and C Ramesh, IFS, Field Director of Manas Tiger Reserve, among other senior forest officials. The nursery hosts 16 species of native grasses, collected from various habitats within Manas since November 2025, and cultivated in specially prepared beds.

C Ramesh stated that the nursery, established in May 2026, is crucial for bolstering large-scale ecological restoration. 'Recent assessments reveal over 60% loss of historical grassland cover over 35 years. Such loss, primarily due to invasive species and habitat mismanagement, highlights the urgent need for restoration,' said Ramesh. These grasslands are essential for endangered wildlife, including the Pygmy Hog and One-horned Rhinoceros. Current estimates suggest an annual loss of 6 sq. km of grassland, pressing the need for intervention. Dr. Vinay Gupta emphasized that restoring grasslands is a top conservation priority. This initiative is a milestone in securing the ecological integrity of the UNESCO World Heritage Site for future generations.