From Dust to Life: How Tal Chhapar Became Indias Grassland Revival Blueprint

From Dust to Life: How Tal Chhapar Became Indias Grassland Revival Blueprint

Once a parched and degraded grassland where blackbucks depended on handouts of food and water to survive, Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary in India's Rajasthan is now witnessing a quiet ecological turnaround. Driven by years of patient grassland restoration—led by former forest officer Surat Singh Poonia—the sanctuary has seen invasive species removed, water systems revived and natural habitats reclaimed. Today, rising blackbuck numbers and returning migratory birds signal a revival that is inspiring similar restoration efforts across Rajasthan. Mongabay India correspondent Azera Parveen Rahman reports

by Trans World Features December 18, 2025