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Study analyzed multiple characteristics of soil (nutrients & micronutrients) while using satellite data for grassland restoration considering ecological value to be primary criterion.

Findings of study:

1. Study categorized Banni grassland's restoration zones into five categories.
2. 36% of existing grassland area was “highly suitable”, 28 %was “suitable”, 27% was “moderately suitable”, 7% was “marginally suitable” while 2% was “not suitable” for restoration.
3. First two categories (Highly suitable and Suitable zones) can be restored easily with adequate water sources (Irrigation or rainwater harvesting).
4. “Marginally suitable” and “not suitable” zones can be managed through terracing & fertilization while protecting them from water erosion and salt intrusion.

The Banni grasslands are inhabited by more than 20 ethnic, semi-nomadic communities across 48 hamlets in 19 "panchayats" (a village-level administrative control unit in India) with a population of about 21,338 in 2011-12. Maldhari is the dominant community in the area, raising livestock for their livelihood and having a particular preference for Banni breed.

The Banni area in Kutch region of western India is a typical salt desert area. The usual methods of farming and husbandry are not successful here.

Prosopis juliflora — a non-native and invasive tree species — has encroached over half Banni, one of Asia’s largest grasslands in Gujarat. The tree is harmful to ecology; yet, local communities have over time grown dependent on it for livelihood by, for example, making charcoal and fuelwood.

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