Isro partners with ATREE to map grasslands, improve land use planning

Bangalore: YisroThe Space Applications Center (SAC) and the Ashoka Research Trust for Ecology and Environment (ATREE) have signed a memorandum of understanding to integrate satellite data with research in the ecological field.“This collaboration will focus on mapping Indian grasslands and other open natural ecosystems, which are often underrepresented in policy and planning. The collaboration will also assess the impact of restoration efforts on degraded lands and develop improved methods to estimate above- and below-ground carbon,” a statement released Thursday said.The collaboration will combine SAC’s capabilities in large-scale geospatial mapping with Atree’s interdisciplinary ecological research and field experience. The aim is to generate reliable, policy-ready data sets to support decision-making at the national and state levels.“The two agencies will also work to create standardized and scalable methods to identify and monitor ecosystems such as grasslands, savannas and deserts. These landscapes, while ecologically important, have received limited attention compared to forests,” the statement read.The initiative is expected to incorporate land use planning, climate action strategies, conservation efforts and rural livelihood plans. By improving how ecosystems are mapped and assessed, the collaboration aims to provide a clearer picture of changes on the ground.The partnership is in line with India’s commitment to achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030 and contributes to the achievement of broader sustainable development goals.