India’s Strategies for Combating Desertification and Land Degradation

India’s Strategies for Combating Desertification and Land Degradation

India, a land of immense geographical diversity, faces significant environmental challenges from desertification and land degradation. These issues pose a severe threat to the nation’s agricultural productivity, water security, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of millions, particularly in rural areas. Recognizing the profound socio-economic and ecological impacts, India has developed and implemented a comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy. This approach integrates robust policy frameworks, national flagship programs, cutting-edge technological interventions, and active international cooperation to address these critical environmental concerns effectively.

Understanding Desertification and Land Degradation in the Indian Context

Land degradation broadly refers to the decline in the productive capacity of land, encompassing various detrimental processes. These include soil erosion by wind and water, salinization, waterlogging, nutrient depletion, and the loss of organic matter. Desertification, a more advanced and severe form of land degradation, specifically affects dryland ecosystems. It is characterized by persistent degradation resulting from a combination of climatic variations and unsustainable human activities, leading to the loss of biological productivity. In India, a substantial portion, approximately 30% of the total geographical area, is currently affected by varying degrees of land degradation, demanding urgent and sustained remedial action.

Key Policy Frameworks and National Programs

India’s commitment to combating desertification and land degradation is underpinned by a robust policy framework and several flagship national programs designed to achieve sustainable land management and restoration.

• National Action Programme to Combat Desertification (NAPCD): Launched in 2001, the NAPCD serves as the primary national framework for addressing desertification. Its focus areas include awareness generation, capacity building, promoting research and development, and implementing various on-ground land restoration and rehabilitation activities across vulnerable regions.

• Green India Mission (GIM): As a crucial component of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), GIM aims to enhance and protect India’s vital forest cover and respond effectively to climate change. The mission strives to increase forest and tree cover by 5 million hectares and improve the quality of existing forest cover on another 5 million hectares of degraded forest or non-forest land.

• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): This scheme is dedicated to ensuring ‘More Crop Per Drop’ by improving water use efficiency. PMKSY integrates various irrigation programs, emphasizing micro-irrigation techniques, rainwater harvesting, and comprehensive watershed development to combat water scarcity, a significant driver of land degradation.

• Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme: Introduced in 2015, the SHC scheme empowers farmers with personalized reports on their soil’s nutrient status. These cards provide recommendations for appropriate fertilizer dosages and amendments, promoting balanced nutrient application, reducing chemical overuse, and ultimately enhancing soil health to prevent degradation.

• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): While primarily a social security scheme providing guaranteed wage employment, MGNREGA has been instrumental in land restoration. It supports activities like watershed development, afforestation, drought-proofing, and various soil conservation works, creating durable community assets and improving ecological health in rural areas.

• National Afforestation Programme (NAP): Implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), NAP focuses on the ecological restoration of degraded forests and surrounding lands. It strongly emphasizes community participation, particularly through Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs), to ensure sustainable forest management.

• Desert Development Programme (DDP): Initiated in 1977-78, DDP aims to mitigate the severe adverse effects of desertification, restore ecological balance, and improve the socio-economic conditions of communities residing in designated desert areas through integrated land and water resource development.

• Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP): Previously a standalone program, IWMP focused on the holistic management of land, water, and vegetation resources within a watershed. It aimed to prevent soil erosion, regenerate natural vegetation, conserve precious water resources, and enhance rural livelihoods. IWMP is now subsumed under PMKSY, ensuring continuity of its objectives.

Technological Interventions and Sustainable Practices

India effectively utilizes science and technology to monitor, assess, and address land degradation, alongside promoting sustainable land management practices.

• Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems (GIS): These advanced technologies are extensively deployed for precise mapping, continuous monitoring, and comprehensive assessment of the extent and severity of land degradation. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plays a pivotal role in providing critical data and insights for informed policy and decision-making.

• Sustainable Land Management (SLM) Practices: Promoting a range of SLM practices, including contour farming, terracing, conservation tillage, and crop rotation, is crucial. These methods significantly reduce soil erosion, improve soil structure, enhance soil fertility, and sustainably boost agricultural productivity.

• Agroforestry and Silvopastoral Systems: Encouraging the integration of trees and shrubs into traditional agricultural and livestock farming systems is a key strategy. These systems enhance biodiversity, improve soil health, provide valuable fodder, timber, and non-timber forest products, and contribute to carbon sequestration.

• Water Conservation Techniques: Widespread adoption of efficient water management practices, such as micro-irrigation (drip and sprinkler systems), construction of check dams, farm ponds, and promotion of rainwater harvesting structures, is vital. These techniques optimize water use, mitigate scarcity, and prevent water-induced land degradation.

International Cooperation and Global Commitments

India is a proactive participant in global efforts to combat desertification and land degradation, demonstrating its commitment on the international stage.

• United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD): India is a committed signatory to the UNCCD and has actively engaged in its deliberations and initiatives. India notably hosted the 14th Conference of Parties (COP14) to the UNCCD in New Delhi in 2019, reaffirming its strong resolve to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) by the target year of 2030.

• Bonn Challenge: India joined the Bonn Challenge in 2015, making a significant pledge to restore 21 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by 2030. This ambitious commitment was subsequently enhanced to 26 million hectares, highlighting India’s dedication to contributing substantially to large-scale global land restoration efforts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is desertification?

Desertification is the persistent degradation of dryland ecosystems resulting from climate variations and human activities. It causes a reduction in biological productivity and biodiversity in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas.

1. What percentage of India’s land is affected by degradation?

Approximately 30% of India’s total geographical area is impacted by various forms of land degradation. This includes issues like soil erosion, salinization, waterlogging, and nutrient depletion, significantly affecting agricultural output.

1. What is the Green India Mission?

The Green India Mission (GIM) is a flagship initiative under the National Action Plan on Climate Change. Its core objective is to protect, restore, and significantly enhance India’s forest cover, contributing to both climate change mitigation and adaptation.

1. What is India’s commitment under the Bonn Challenge?

India initially pledged to restore 21 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 under the Bonn Challenge. This commitment was later increased to 26 million hectares, showcasing India’s significant role in global land restoration efforts.

Stay Updated with Daily Current Affairs 2026