Latest news with #Desertification
India Gazette
17-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
MoEFCC organizes one-day national workshop on
Jodhpur (Rajasthan) [India], June 17 (ANI): On the occasion of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, organized a one-day national workshop at the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education - Arid Forest Research Institute (ICFRE-AFRI), Jodhpur. The theme of the event was 'Strategies for Combating Desertification and Drought', focusing on sustainable land management in arid and semi-arid ecosystems, according to a release by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The event was graced by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, as Chief Guest in august presence of Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), Rajendra Gehlot. Speaking on the inaugural session, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, highlighted India's proactive measures to combat desertification and promote ecological restoration. He emphasized the importance of sustainable agricultural practices, community-driven initiatives, and the preservation of natural ecosystems, according to the release. Union Minister Yadav pointed out that significant portion of India's land is facing challenges due to desertification, primarily caused by unsustainable agricultural practices, excessive use of fertilizers like urea, and indiscriminate pesticide application. He stressed that such practices not only degrade the land but also pose a threat to food security and biodiversity, the release added. In line with India's commitment to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, the government has adopted a comprehensive approach focusing on ecosystem restoration, drought resilience, and biodiversity enhancement. Yadav emphasized that healthy land is crucial for regional stability and economic prosperity, urging nations to join efforts in combating land degradation. According to address these challenges, following steps could help in restoring the ecological balance: Amrit Sarovars: Aiming to rejuvenate water bodies to combat desertification and support Van: Encouraging communities, especially in the Aravalli region, to plant trees in the name of their mothers, fostering a deep connection with nature. Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam: A nationwide movement initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where citizens plant trees in honor of their mothers, symbolizing respect for 'Mother Earth', the release stated. Yadav highlighted that these initiatives are not just about planting trees but about restoring ecological balance and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come. He further said that the Aravalli Mountain range, spanning 700 kilometers across 29 districts, holds significant ecological and cultural importance. Shri Yadav emphasized that the Aravallis are not only a natural barrier against desertification but also a cradle of India's civilization and heritage. He urged local communities to actively participate in conservation efforts and restore degraded areas through collaborative actions. Looking ahead to 2047, Yadav expressed confidence that India will achieve its green economy goals by integrating ecological sustainability with economic development. He reiterated that the nation's development trajectory will be aligned with ecological preservation, ensuring a harmonious balance between growth and environmental stewardship. Addressing on the occasion, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, emphasized the vital role of the Aravalli Mountain range in combating desertification and preserving ecological balance. Union Minister Shekhawat highlighted that while global forest cover has been declining, India has made significant strides in increasing its forest cover. He noted, 'The Aravalli Mountain range has been instrumental in water conservation, groundwater recharge, and maintaining biodiversity. It serves as a natural barrier against the advancing Thar Desert, protecting regions like Eastern Rajasthan, Haryana, and the National Capital Region. The Minister further stated, 'Our responsibility is immense. The Aravallis have sustained our civilization for thousands of years, and it is our duty to preserve this heritage for future generations,' Shekhawat also acknowledged the contributions of local communities in safeguarding the environment. He remarked, 'Many individuals have dedicated their lives to environmental conservation, embodying the spirit of vigilant environmental stewardship.' The workshop featured a series of technical sessions covering key themes in land restoration and desertification control. Discussions on Sustainable Land Management (SLM) highlighted MoEFCC and ICFRE institutes integrated, community-led restoration efforts. This was followed by presentations on Global and National case studies by development partners like UNDP, ADB, GIZ, KfW, AFD and World Bank. A dedicated session on the Aravalli Green Wall Project focused on inter-state collaboration to restore ecological balance in the Aravalli region. The final session addressed Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) through multi-stakeholder actions involving state governments, SAC, CAZRI, NGOs, and others. The event concluded with a wrap-up session affirming India's commitment to science-based, participatory, and policy-driven desertification mitigation, according to the release. This event reaffirmed India's leadership role under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and demonstrated its progress toward achieving land degradation neutrality by 2030, with a strong focus on knowledge exchange, collaboration, and field-level impact. This workshop is also part of India's broader efforts to address the environmental challenges of desertification, especially in vulnerable regions such as the Aravallis and the Thar Desert, the release added. The event was attended by DG, Forest Sushil Kumar Awasthi, ADG (Forest) Kanchan Devi, DG, ICFRE and Tarun Kant, Director, AFRI and other dignitaries and officials of central and state governments. (ANI)
IOL News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Deputy minister urges urgent action to combat desertification and land degradation
The Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bernice Swarts has welcomed the need for members of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) to do more in addressing desertification, land degradation, and drought while continuing to build strong partnerships for integrated solutions. Image: Supplied The Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Bernice Swarts, has welcomed the need for members of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) to do more in addressing Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought (DLDD) while continuing to build strong partnerships for integrated solutions. On Tuesday, on the first day of the four-day conference, the deputy minister delivered her keynote address to various member states and dignitaries gathered at the Radisson Blue Hotel in Sandton. "In the next four days, we will deliberate on issues relating to desertification, land degradation, and drought. I am pleased to confirm that many faces here are not new to me, as I had an opportunity to meet many of you during the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification 16th Session of the Conference of the Parties in Saudi Arabia. "As you may recall, the UNCCD COP16 underscored the need to mobilise additional and innovative resources to support Parties in accelerating actions and interventions on the ground to address desertification, land degradation, and drought, and synergies with other environmental issues." Swarts said desertification, land degradation, and drought form part of the priority focus areas for South Africa's Presidency of the G20 Environment, Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG). Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ "For the first time in the history of the G20 Presidency, South Africa has made a bold commitment by including DLDD issues among its G20 priorities. This commitment fosters global solidarity in addressing the drivers of DLDD while promoting the mainstreaming of Sustainable Land Management practices and approaches across key sectors. "The main focus under the G20 ECSWG priority on DLDD is on the implementation of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets and their deliverables," she said. Speaking on the importance of Integrated Land Use Planning (IDN – ILUP) and target setting programme of the UNCCD, Baron Jospeh from the UNCCD Secretariat stressed the need for vertical and horizontal integration strategies. "I embrace the need for vertical and horizontal integration strategies, and the key thing is that once you fully embrace this approach, you are going to be linking various data sets. You are going to be able to better position cross collaborations," he said.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
India's quiet power: How soil can shape a resilient future
Praveena Sridhar is the Chief Science and Technology Officer of the Save Soil movement. She has a Master's in Environment Engineering and is a public policy expert. She has been working in the environmental sector for over 20 years. Over the years, she has worked on projects to deliver sustainable drinking water and sanitation, agriculture, and farmer welfare. LESS ... MORE As the world marks Earth Day, India faces an urgent need not just for reflection, but recalibration. With climate volatility, declining nutritional security, rural distress, and biodiversity loss converging into a complex national challenge, the solution may lie beneath our very feet. Soil—living, dynamic, and often overlooked—emerges as a strategic asset that can address these overlapping crises through one integrated approach. One Root, Many Branches India's soil health crisis is no longer invisible. According to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, nearly 147 million hectares—about 37% of our land—is degraded. Alarmingly, 30% of agricultural soils are classified as severely degraded, with organic carbon levels falling below 0.5% in many regions. The economic toll is substantial: land degradation costs the Indian economy an estimated ₹3.17 lakh crore annually, nearly 2% of our GDP. These figures are not abstract. They show up in reduced farm incomes, shrinking yields, rising input costs, and food with 15–35% fewer essential micronutrients like iron, zinc, and vitamin A. For nearly 100 million small and marginal farmers—the backbone of Indian agriculture—soil degradation is directly linked to growing debt and dwindling resilience. Soil as a National Strategy The appeal of soil restoration lies in its multiplier effect. Healthy soil supports thriving microbial life, anchors biodiversity, buffers against climate extremes, and produces nutrient-rich food—all while stabilizing farmer incomes and reducing public spending on inputs like chemical fertilizers, which crossed ₹1.7 lakh crore in subsidies last year. Farmers adopting regenerative practices—from agroforestry and crop rotation to composting and reduced tillage—report 30–45% higher net incomes, along with up to 30% lower irrigation needs. The benefits go beyond economics. Soils managed with organic principles can sequester an estimated 7–10 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per hectare annually, while enhancing water retention—a crucial adaptation tool in an era of erratic monsoons. Solution for a Nexus of Problems The need for integrative approaches is echoed globally. Experts and policymakers now call for collaboration among the Rio Conventions on Climate Change, Biodiversity, and Desertification. Soil offers a unifying framework: addressing its health unlocks progress on all three fronts. And India is well positioned to lead this approach. With centuries of ecological knowledge, emerging regenerative farming movements, and vast cultivated lands, we hold the tools to mainstream a Soil rejuvenation as a solution for a nexus of problems linking environmental health with economic well-being. India has already initiated several efforts—the Soil Health Card Scheme, the National Agroforestry Policy, and the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, among others. These are important steps, and lay a robust foundation. What's needed is a systems-level redesign: one that sees soil not as an isolated environmental issue but as foundational to agricultural productivity, public health, and fiscal stability. Reframing the Future In an age of geopolitical uncertainties and shifting trade dynamics—such as the temporary pause on U.S. tariffs on Indian agricultural goods—self-reliance in food systems becomes not just prudent, but essential. Fertile, resilient soil is the bedrock of that independence. As India charts its path toward sustainable development, soil should no longer remain beneath the radar. Investing in soil regeneration is not just a matter of ecological necessity—it is a pathway to economic resilience, nutritional security, and climate preparedness. This Earth Day, it's time to stop treating soil as an afterthought and start seeing it as the strategic national asset it truly is. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
