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In a new study, researchers have assessed the suitability of different areas of Banni for sustainable grassland restoration, considering ecological value to be the primary criterion
Banni grasslands
Location: Kachchh district, Gujarat
It once covered an area of approximately 3,800 sq. km but it has now decreased to about 2,600 sq. km.
The largest grassland tracts in Asia, offering crucial ecosystem services like carbon storage and supporting diverse species.
Degradation due to agricultural expansion, tree plantations, invasive species, and development projects.
Rich biodiversity with about 192 species of plants, 262 species of birds, several species of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
It is also known for the Banni breed of buffaloes
Most of the livestock keepers in Banni belong to the Maldhari community.
They rear the Banni or Sindhi buffalo, Kankrej cattle, sheep, goats, horses, donkeys and camels
Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER)
ASTER is a Japanese remote sensing instrument onboard the Terra satellite launched by NASA in 1999.
It has been collecting data since February 2000
ASTER is a satellite sensor used to capture detailed data on Earth's surface.
Provides information on land use, land cover, geomorphology, and land slope.
ASTER data was used in the Banni grasslands study to assess land characteristics and support sustainable grassland management
ASTER provides high-resolution images of Earth in 14 different bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, ranging from visible to thermal infrared light.
The resolution of images ranges between 15 and 90 meters.
ASTER data is used to create detailed maps of surface temperature of land, emissivity, reflectance, and elevation
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