Backgrounder
Poverty and environmental
degradation are major problems in dry lands, where forests and trees contribute
significantly to rural livelihoods. In order to eradicate poverty in the dry lands,
it is important to protect the land from deforestation, fragmentation,
degradation and drought. About 228 mha (69%) of
India's total geographical area (about 328 mha) is
under dry lands (arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid). These areas incidentally
are highly populated which makes the people vulnerable to environmental stress
and impacts livelihoods directly.
In order to tackle the
issues of desertification, land degradation and droughts, 22 major programmes are being implemented in the country, including,
the “Mission for Green India”, one of the Missions under the National Action
Plan on Climate Change, which will address dry land forests, in addition to
other ecosystems.
4th national report submitted to United
Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Secretariat
not only encompasses the Government of India's initiatives
but also Civil Society's contribution in addressing the issues of
desertification, land degradation and drought.
Highlights
of the Report
_
About 69 percent of India is dry land – arid,
semi-arid and dry sub-humid
o These areas
are heavily populated
o Degradation
has severe implications for livelihood and food security for millions of people
living in these areas
_ An estimated 32
percent of India’s total land area is affected by land degradation (of which
desertification is a major component)
_
81.45 million hectares, or 24.8 percent of the
country’s geographic area is undergoing desertification
_
Water and soil erosion are major causes of land degradation; water erosion is
most prominent in agricultural regions
_
The key anthropogenic factors resulting in degradation
are unsustainable agricultural practices; diversion of land to development programmes; industrial effluents; mining and deforestation
_
Unsustainable resource management practices drive desertification, and accentuate
the poverty of people affected by desertification
_
Land rehabilitation has been a major priority since Independence, and several
policies and government agencies address desertification and degradation. These
include various programmes namely Desert Development Programme;
Integrated Wasteland Development; National Watershed, Development Project for Rainfed Areas; Soil Conservation in the Catchment of River
Valley Projects; National Afforestation Programme; Arid Zone Research; Mahatma Gandhi National
Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme; National Rural Drinking Water Programme etc.
KP