India, July 14 -- The first-ever dedicated native grass nursery in Western Maharashtra is now flourishing in Gulunche village, located in Purandar tehsil of Pune district. What began as a modest ecological restoration initiative one and a half years ago has blossomed into a thriving hub of native flora, offering new hope for the revival of degraded grassland ecosystems in the semi-arid regions of the state.

Established in January 2024, the nursery was envisioned as a critical component of a long-term, science-driven grassland management program. It is spearheaded by The Grasslands Trust in collaboration with the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) and the Pune district administration.

The project, rooted in ...