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World Environment Day 2024

Leading the Change for Land Restoration
June 04, 2024

About

World Environment Day is the United Nation’s initiative to encourage worldwide

awareness and action for the environment. Held annually since 1973, the Day has also
become a vital platform for promoting progress on the environmental dimensions of the
Sustainable Development Goals. Major corporations, non-governmental organizations,
communities, governments, and celebrities worldwide adopt the World Environment Day
brand to champion environmental causes.
Focus of World Environment Day 2024

World Environment Day 2024 focuses on land restoration, desertification, and drought
resilience, under the slogan “Our Land. Our Future. We are Generation Restoration.”
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host the 2024 global celebrations, focusing on delivering
solutions to these pressing issues.

Land restoration can reverse land degradation, drought, and desertification, with each dollar
invested in restoration yielding up to $30 in ecosystem services. Restoration boosts
livelihoods, reduces poverty, builds resilience to extreme weather, increases carbon storage,
and slows climate change. Restoring just 15% of degraded land could prevent up to 60% of
expected species extinctions.

Addressing the root causes of land degradation, such as climate change, is essential. Last
year’s record-breaking temperatures resulted in widespread heatwaves, storms, floods, and
droughts. Effective land restoration must go hand-in-hand with tackling climate change;
otherwise, efforts are undermined.

India's Contribution towards Environmental Sustainability

Mission LiFE

India is leading the way in sustainability and environmental conservation with Mission LiFE
(Lifestyle for Environment). This India-led global mass movement aims to inspire individual
and community action to protect and preserve the environment. Introduced at COP26 in
Glasgow, Mission LiFE focuses on promoting eco-friendly practices and sustainable
lifestyles.

India is the first country to include LiFE in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs),
reflecting its commitment to combating climate change through behavioural change rooted in
traditional, sustainable living.

Mission LiFE channels the efforts of individuals and communities into a global movement
for positive change. It emphasizes the importance of conserving natural resources and living
in harmony with nature, as advocated in ancient Indian scriptures.

Each phase of Mission LiFE encourages a fundamental shift towards sustainability, aiming to
inspire global action towards environmental conservation and climate resilience.
Encouraging Plantation of Trees on Barren Land

Government of India encourages plantation in the country through various programs/schemes

such as National Mission for Green India (GIM), National Afforestation Programme (NAP),
Nagar Van Yojana, School Nursery Yojana, Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management
and Planning Authority (CAMPA) funds, etc. which promotes tree plantation on waste,
vacant and barren lands by involving local communities, NGOs, educational institutions, etc.

Wetlands Conservation

India's commitment to wetland conservation has seen significant milestones. In January 2024,
India expanded its Ramsar Site count to 80 by designating new sites in Karnataka and Tamil
Nadu. This achievement follows the addition of 11 wetlands in August 2022, commemorating
India's 75th Independence anniversary. The Wetlands of India Portal serves as a knowledge
hub for wetland managers and stakeholders, providing valuable information and resources.

Forest and Wildlife Conservation

India has made notable progress in forest conservation and sustainable forest management. At
the 19th session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), India highlighted its
consistent increase in forest cover over the past fifteen years, ranking third globally in net
forest area gain.
Further, as per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021, the Forest Cover of the country
is 7,13,789 sq. km, which is 21.71 % of the total geographical area of the country.

India has expanded its network of protected areas, including wildlife sanctuaries, national
parks, and tiger reserves. Celebrations of 50 years of Project Tiger and 30 years of Project
Elephant underscore India's dedication to species conservation.

The introduction of the 'Green Credit Program' incentivizes tree plantation and restoration of
degraded forest lands, further strengthening climate action initiatives.

Mangrove Restoration

Mangrove forests have more capacity to store carbon, provide breeding grounds for marine
biodiversity and support global fish populations. Government of India has taken a number of
steps to protect and enhance mangrove forests in coastal States/Union Territories through
promotional as well as regulatory measures. The promotional measures are being
implemented through a Central Sector Scheme ‘Conservation and Management of Mangroves
and Coral Reefs’ under the National Coastal Mission Programme. Further, Mangrove
Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) was announced in the
Union Budget 2023-24 to promote and conserve mangroves.

Ban on Single Use Plastics

Government of India notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, on
12th August 2021, prohibiting manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of the
identified Single Use Plastic (SUP) items, which have low utility and high littering potential
with effect from the 1st July, 2022. The notification also prohibits manufacture, import,
stocking, distribution, sale and use of plastic carry bags having thickness less than one
hundred and twenty microns with effect from the 31st December, 2022.

Renewable Energy

Launched on January 4, 2023, with an

outlay of ₹19,744 crore, National Green
Hydrogen Mission aims to contribute to
India’s goal to become Aatma Nirbhar
(self-reliant) through clean energy and
serve as an inspiration for the global Clean
Energy Transition. The Mission will lead
to significant decarbonization of the
economy, reduced dependence on fossil
fuel imports, and enable India to assume
technology and market leadership in Green
Hydrogen.

India, already, stands 4th globally in Renewable Energy Installed Capacity, 4th in Wind
Power capacity and 5th in Solar Power capacity.

Global Initiatives

India is a member of the Global Alliance for Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency
(GACERE) and the Steering Committee of the International Resource Panel (IRP). These
platforms advocate for a global and just circular economy transition and sustainable natural
resource management.

India has also taken steps to protect and enhance mangrove forests through the 'Conservation
and Management of Mangroves and Coral Reefs' scheme under the National Coastal Mission
Programme.

Additionally. the sixth Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) was hosted at
Bharat Mandapam, in New Delhi on October 31, 2023. Ministers from 20 countries and
delegates from across 116 Member and Signatory countries participated in the Assembly.

India's comprehensive approach to environmental conservation, from Mission LiFE to global

initiatives, demonstrates its leadership and commitment to building a sustainable future.
References

 https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/saudi-arabia-host-world-
environment-day-2024-focus-land-restoration
 https://pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?NoteId=151181&ModuleId=3
 https://missionlife-moefcc.nic.in/
 https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2003989
 https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2002625
 https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2002616
 https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2002614
 https://pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?NoteId=151805&ModuleId=3
 https://pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?NoteId=151805&ModuleId=3
 https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2020773
 https://mospi.gov.in/sites/default/files/reports_and_publication/statistical_publicat
ion/EnviStats/Chap4-Wetlands_envst22.pdf

Santosh Kumar/ Himanshu Pathak/ Ritu Kataria/ Madiha Iqbal