SYLLABUS

GS-3:Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment. 

Context: According to India’s Second Progress Report on the Bonn Challenge (2011–2020), the country restored 21.76 million hectares of degraded and deforested land, achieving nearly 84% of its 2030 restoration target.

More on the News

• The report was released by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in collaboration with IUCN on the occasion of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (17 June).
• The restored area includes interventions such as planted forests, natural regeneration, silviculture, agroforestry and mangrove restoration.
• Telangana (4.18 million hectares) emerged as the leading state in land restoration, while Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh were among the other major contributors.
• Restoration activities are estimated to have generated approximately 1.22 billion person-days of employment, highlighting their socio-economic benefits.
• The report estimates that restoration efforts have sequestered around 461.14 million tonnes of carbon, contributing significantly to climate-change mitigation.
• The report highlights the contribution of restoration efforts towards forest landscape restoration, ecosystem resilience and Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN).

About the Bonn Challenge

• The Bonn Challenge is a global initiative launched in 2011 to restore degraded and deforested landscapes worldwide.
• It aims to bring:
  • 150 million hectares under restoration by 2020.
  • 350 million hectares under restoration by 2030.
• It is supported by the Government of Germany and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and serves as a global platform for achieving climate, biodiversity and sustainable development goals through ecosystem restoration.

India's Commitments and Progress Achieved

• In 2015, India pledged to restore 13 Mha of degraded and deforested land by 2020 and an additional 8 Mha by 2030 under the Bonn Challenge.
• At UNCCD COP-14 (New Delhi, 2019), India enhanced its restoration target to 26 Mha by 2030.
• Between 2011 and 2017, India restored 9.8 million hectares of land, according to the first Bonn Challenge progress report.
• Programmes such as the PMKSY–Watershed Development Component, Green India Mission, National Afforestation Programme (NAP), CAMPA-supported afforestation initiatives and MGNREGS have significantly contributed to landscape restoration across the country.
• Participation of local communities through Joint Forest Management (JFM), watershed programmes and livelihood-based restoration initiatives has improved the sustainability and effectiveness of restoration outcomes.

Significance of Land Restoration

• Combating Desertification: Restoration helps reverse land degradation and supports India's efforts to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality under the UNCCD.
• Enhancing Climate Resilience: Healthy ecosystems improve carbon sequestration, strengthen climate adaptation and reduce vulnerability to droughts and extreme weather events.
• Conserving Biodiversity: Restoration of degraded forests, grasslands and wetlands improves habitat connectivity and supports biodiversity conservation.
• Improving Soil and Water Security: Restored landscapes enhance soil fertility, groundwater recharge and watershed health, thereby strengthening agricultural productivity.
• Supporting Rural Livelihoods: Restoration programmes generate employment opportunities and improve income security for rural and forest-dependent communities.

Challenges and Concerns

• Large Extent of Land Degradation: According to the India Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas, about 97.85 Mha (29.77% of India's geographical area) is affected by land degradation and desertification.
• Ensuring Quality of Restoration: Restoration efforts should focus on ecosystem health, native biodiversity and ecological functionality rather than merely increasing tree cover.
• Developmental Pressures: Urbanisation, infrastructure expansion, mining and land-use changes continue to exert pressure on restored and ecologically sensitive landscapes.
• Need for Long-Term Monitoring: Sustained financing, scientific monitoring and periodic assessment are essential to ensure the long-term success of restoration efforts.

Way Forward

• Adopt Landscape-Based Restoration: Promote integrated restoration of forests, grasslands, wetlands and agricultural landscapes rather than fragmented interventions.
• Strengthen Community Participation: Empower local communities, forest dwellers and Panchayati Raj Institutions in planning and implementing restoration initiatives.
• Integrate Restoration with Climate Action: Align restoration programmes with India's climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development commitments.
• Leverage Technology and Scientific Monitoring: Expand the use of geospatial tools, remote sensing and ecosystem-health indicators for evidence-based restoration and monitoring.