“Earth’s dry emergency”
# GS - 1
# GS - 3
# DTE
Context The recent UNCCD
report
titled "Stepping back from Precipice"
highlights a critical
global visis :
land desertification has reached
unsustainable levels ,
threatening
stability of the planet
.
Global Desertification
Extent
of Land Degradation : 15 million
sq km.
affected
size) .
globally (equal to Russia's
Affected population : 1 2 billion
.
people .
Annual Expansion : Increases
by 1 million
sq .
km
annually .
Forest cover :
Only 60 % of
original forest cover remains. Source: Research gate
India specific facts for prelims According to state of India's
Environment , 2022 ,
India has
29 32
. % of its land
undergoing
degradation .
Approx 21 million hectares of forest
land is
degraded .
Mizoram is
experiencing one
of the fastest rates of
desertification in India .
Planetary Boundaries Framework This concept introduced
Important Concept for prelims
was
by Johan Rockstorm (2009) , identifiedI ecological
thresholds to
critical Earth's
stability :
Land
1
system change 5
Biogeochemical flows
2 Climate change G Novel entities
3 Biosphere integrity 7 Atmospheric aerosol
Y Freshwater Ocean
use &
acidification
9 Stratospheric ozone depletion
Agricultural practices Inappropriate land management
conventional
farming ,
Fertilizer Ineffective land use, Poor
overuse, Monoculture
ropping ,
soil conservation , Improper
Deforestation irrigation , Lack of crop rotation
Industrial & urban Socio economic drivers
development
Population
Causes of
pressure
Urbanization
Poverty
Industrial Infra. Desertification short term economic
Construction gain models
Resource exploitation Natural factors
unsustainable Timber
mining , Climate
Change Prolonged,
logging , Mineral extraction ,
drought Geological
,
processes ,
oil I exploration
gas
. soilcosion
by wind I water.
Consequences of Desertification
Reduction in
biodiversity Exacerbation of climate
R >
& ecosystem services .
change .
Increased vulnerabilities Threat
2 >
to
global food
to natural disasters. security
.
water
scarcity from 2 2
Affects 7 out
of 9
depleted freshwater sources.
planetary boundaries .
M
Loss
of livelihoods , particularly for real populations .
National Action
Program to
Desertification &
degradation
Combat
Desertification . Atlas of India .
National Mission Desert
Indian development
on
green
India .
initiatives program
.
National Afforestation Fodder I
feed development
Program .
Scheme .
Global Initiatives
The Bonn
Challenge
a SDG Goal 15
* Convention to combat (UNCCD)
UN
Desertification
Great
green
wall
by Global Environment
Facility (GEF).
a to combat
world
day desertification I
drought .
Solutions and Way Forward
Promote Promote Land
regenerative Degradation
& >
agriculture .
Neutrality target under UNCCD .
GIS & remote
Use
sensing Develop efficient irrigation
2)
for monitoring land use .
techniques.
Establish economic Establish Desertification
1 2
outside
opportunities drylands.
adaptation zones.
Empower local communities" for land restoration projects.
Previous year Questions
Q: Consider the following pairs: (2014)
Programme/Project Ministry
1. Drought-Prone Area - Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
2. Desert Development Programme - Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change
3. National Watershed Project Development for Rainfed Areas - Ministry of Rural Development
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 and 2 only. (b) 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) None
Ans: (d)
Q: The process of desertification does not have climate boundaries. Justify with examples. (2020)
Q: In what way micro-watershed development projects help in water conservation in drought-
prone and semi-arid regions of India? (2016)
