Assam's Manas National Park Launches Grass Nursery to Aid Ecosystem Restoration

Initiative to Restore Grasslands

Guwahati, June 7: The Manas National Park & Tiger Reserve (MNPTR) in Assam has inaugurated its first grass nursery aimed at conserving the endangered ecosystem, which has seen a decline of over 60% in grasslands over the past 35 years.

As part of this initiative, park officials have also released 15 pygmy hogs, recognized as the smallest and rarest wild pig species, into the park under the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP).

According to MNPTR, the establishment of the grass nursery at the Bansbari Range is a significant advancement in preserving Assam's endangered grassland ecosystems.

This nursery spans 7.5 bigha (around one hectare) and has been funded by the state Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).

It is designed to serve as a long-term seed source for the restoration and expansion of grasslands across Manas and other protected regions in Assam.

Recent evaluations have revealed that Manas has lost more than 60% of its historical grassland cover over the last 35 years, making this initiative timely.

In 1990, grasslands covered approximately 384 sq km (45% of the area), but this has dwindled to about 155 sq km (18%) today, largely due to invasive species, encroachment, changes in river dynamics, and past habitat management issues.

Currently, it is estimated that around 6 sq km of grassland is lost each year, highlighting the urgent need for restoration efforts.

This project represents a crucial step in Manas' ongoing mission to restore one of Asia's vital riverine grassland ecosystems and maintain the ecological integrity of this UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site for future generations.

Since November 2025, 16 species of native grasses have been collected from various habitats within Manas and cultivated in specially designed nursery beds.

Established in May 2026, the nursery is anticipated to play a pivotal role in large-scale ecological restoration initiatives.

These alluvial grasslands are essential for supporting globally threatened wildlife, including the pygmy hog, Bengal florican, hispid hare, one-horned rhinoceros, wild water buffalo, swamp deer, Asian elephant, and tiger.

During the event, Assam's Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Vinay Gupta, emphasized that restoring grasslands is a top conservation priority for Manas National Park.

He noted, "The newly established grass nursery will ensure a sustainable supply of native grass species necessary for habitat restoration, managing invasive species, and recovering critical wildlife habitats."

Additionally, the 15 captive-bred pygmy hogs were released into the Kuribeel grasslands of Manas National Park as part of the PHCP.

The pygmy hog, or Porcula Salvania, is critically endangered and facing extinction.

Gupta remarked on this development, stating, "The reintroduction of the endangered pygmy hog in MNP is a significant conservation success. Such initiatives are crucial for restoring grassland ecosystems and protecting threatened species."

This marks the sixth release of pygmy hogs into MNP since 2020, bringing the total number of endangered species released by the program to 78.