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India prepares to host UN conference to curb land degradation
Around 147 million hectares in India is undergoing some form of degradation. India needs sustainable management of land, forest, and water.
Desertification does not imply the natural expansion of existing deserted land; it means the degradation of productive land in arid or semi-arid areas. Desertification is a gradual decay of soil productivity and biodiversity—which makes cropping and cultivation of land unfeasible. Land degradation, at a steady rate, in dry-lands creates desert-like conditions.
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was formed initially in 1996 to combat desertification in African countries. It is the only United Nations body to explicitly address the global challenges of Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought (DLDD). In the 25th year of the UNCCD, India will host the Conference of Parties (COP14) from 2 to 13 September 2019. It will be organised at India Expo Mart Limited in Greater Noida and more than 5,000 representatives from about 197 countries are participating in the global conference.
A study by TERI in 2018 showed an economic loss of 2.5% of GDP in 2014-15 due to land degradation in India. As a run-up to the Convention, TERI and UNCCD organised a special media training workshop on 'Achieving Land Degradation Neutrality by 2030' on August 1-2, 2019 in New Delhi. The workshop equipped young journalists with the intricately connected dynamics of land, water, climate change, and biodiversity.
Global Assessment of Land Degradation
The world is losing nearly 13 million hectares of forest every year, while the persistent degradation of drylands has led to the desertification of over 3.6 billion hectares. Achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN), in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is crucial for restoring the productivity of degraded land, improving the livelihoods of over 1.3 billion people, and mitigating the effects of drought.
A special report by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
The report on climate change, desertification, and land degradation was released on August 8, 2019. The report stresses that land is under growing anthropogenic pressure, and climate change is adding further stress on the resource. It also shows that better land management, one of the solutions, can contribute to combating climate change and maintain food security.
India at UNCCD COP14
Land Degradation Atlas by ISRO
The analysis of remotely sensed data by ISRO shows a cumulative increase of 1.87 million hectares of area is undergoing process of desertification or land degradation in India between 2003-05 and 2011-13. The most significant cause of land degradation in India is water erosion (10.98% in 2011-13), followed by vegetation degradation and wind erosion. The maps and salient findings are compiled in the form of Atlas by ISRO.
Sustainable management of soil, water and biodiversity are required for protecting India's land from further degradation. More details about COP14 are available at the official website: https://unccdcop14india.gov.in/
The 14th session of the global conference will evaluate the progress made by member countries to combat desertification, land degradation, and drought since the last COP held in China.
Highlights of Media Training by TERI and UNCCD
Background Note by S Vijay Kumar, Distinguished Fellow, TERI
The note presents an overview of combating DDLD issues in India. Though the subjects of "land", "agriculture" and "water" are subjects with the States as per the Constitution, the concerns for arresting and reversing land degradation and desertification have been reflected in many of the national policies for nearly 40 years. It includes the evolution of centrally sponsored schemes and programmes to address the various aspects of land degradation.
TERI's 2018 Study on Economic Cost of Land Degradation in India highlighted that land degradation cost 2.5% of India's GDP in 2014-15. The study was carried out in six different states of India with varied topographical conditions: Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
Read complete report volumes of the study:
JV Sharma, Director, Forestry and Biodiversity Division: Conserving India's Forests
Although India's overall forest cover has increased, however, the quality of forests in India are declining as the area cover of moderately dense forests has reduced. Forests are home to 80% of the country's biodiversity and are source of sustenance to over 275 million people.
Umakant, Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Ministry of Rural Development
An overview of the government works being implemented under the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).
How to Sustain Farmers' Interest in Drylands by A Ravindra, WASSAN: Land, Water & Degradation
Watershed Support Services and Activities Network (WASSAN) finds that investing in rainfed agriculture would have huge implications for the ecological, social and economic well-being of the large and diverse populations that inhabit it.
Organizing Women for Land and Water Resource Development by Manas Satpathy, PRADAN
Land degradation is closely linked to low agriculture productivity and poverty. Professional Assistance For Development Action (PRADAN) is nurturing and building capacities of rural women to rejuvenate land using watershed approach and to enhance wages through improved farming.
Economic Costs of Land Degradation in India by Pia Sethi, Senior Fellow, TERI
The current annual cost of degradation is higher than what will be the cost of reclamation in 2030. Simply put, it costs far less to reclaim land than it does to degrade it.
Fundamental challenges in Rainfed Agriculture, A Ravindra, Director, Watershed Support Services and Activities Network (WASSAN)
India commits for land degradation neutrality by 2030, Anuradha Singh, Director, Desertification Cell, Ministry of Forests, Environment and Climate
Community participation needed for water use efficiency in agriculture, Dr Ashok Kumar Jain, Adviser, NITI Aayog
Unregulated bore wells in drylands led to groundwater depletion, MV Rama Chandrudu, Executive Secretary and Director, WASSAN
Organising women for land and water resource development
Land degradation prompted a loss of 2.54% to India's (GDP) in 2014-15
Read full proceedings from media training here:
Relevant Media Coverages
- India needs to set goals for land degradation neutrality
- Govt plans to integrate land and water schemes to tackle land degradation
- 100 mn hectares going to waste, govt to bring land & water schemes together to fix problem
- UN Conference in India Aims to Curb Global Land Degradation
- Thirty percent of India's land is degraded says Director of Env Ministry