Land Degradation and Desertification in India: Causes, Impacts, Government Initiatives & Way Forward

GS III: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation

Context: Land degradation has emerged as a major environmental challenge affecting soil fertility, agricultural productivity, food security and livelihoods.

• According to the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India (ISRO), around 30% of India’s geographical area is under land degradation, affecting approximately 97.85 million hectares.
• Desertification is not limited to deserts; it refers to the decline of biological productivity of drylands due to climatic and human-induced factors.

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Meaning and Difference between Land Degradation and Desertification

Land Degradation

• Refers to the decline in quality, productivity and fertility of land.
• It occurs due to loss of soil nutrients, vegetation cover and soil quality.

Desertification

• It is a form of land degradation occurring mainly in arid and semi-arid regions.
• It results in a severe decline of biological productivity, making land desert-like.

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Indicators of Land Degradation

• •  Loss of Forest Biomass: Reduction in forest cover and vegetation decreases soil protection and increases erosion.

• Salinization: Excessive irrigation in dry areas increases salt accumulation in soil, reducing agricultural productivity.

• Decline in Soil Nutrients: Soil erosion removes essential nutrients required for plant growth.

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Causes of Land Degradation

Anthropogenic Causes (Human-induced)

• Deforestation: Removal of trees reduces soil binding capacity, increasing soil erosion.

• Overgrazing: Excessive grazing destroys vegetation cover and reduces soil fertility.

• Unsustainable Agriculture: Practices like repeated cultivation of the same crop reduce soil nutrients.

• Waterlogging: Poor irrigation management causes accumulation of water, leading to soil degradation.

• Unplanned Urbanisation: Conversion of agricultural land into concrete areas reduces productive land availability.

Natural Causes

• Erratic monsoon
• Droughts
• Extreme heat events
• Climate change impacts

These factors increase moisture loss and accelerate land degradation.

Impacts of Land Degradation

• Food Security Threat: Declining soil fertility reduces agricultural output, affecting farmers and food availability.

• Climate Change Vulnerability: Degraded land has lower capacity to withstand droughts and floods.

• Migration and Social Impact: Loss of agricultural productivity forces rural populations to migrate towards cities, increasing urban pressure.

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Government Initiatives

• National Action Plan on Land Restoration

• India aims to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.
• It aligns with the objectives of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

•  Green India Mission: Focuses on afforestation and ecosystem restoration.
• CAMPA Fund: Promotes compensatory afforestation when forest land is diverted.
• Nagar Van Scheme: Promotes urban forestry to improve urban ecosystems.

Way Forward

• Treat Land Restoration as Critical Infrastructure: Land restoration should receive priority like roads and railways.
• Community Participation: Local communities and Panchayats should be involved through community-based conservation.
• Sustainable Agriculture: Promote:

• Drip irrigation
• Crop rotation
• Regenerative farming

• Technology-based Monitoring: Use GIS-based monitoring systems for real-time assessment of land restoration.

Case Study: Alwar, Rajasthan

• In the 1980s, Alwar district faced groundwater depletion, illegal mining and land degradation.
• Rajendra Singh and his organisation Tarun Bharat Sangh worked with local communities.
• Restoration of traditional water structures called Johads helped revive rivers and degraded land.

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Conclusion

Land degradation is not merely an environmental issue but a challenge affecting economic development, food security and rural livelihoods. Sustainable land management through community participation, technology and ecological restoration is essential for achieving the goal of a resilient and sustainable India.

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