High-level Dialogue on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought | GS paper 3
High-Level Dialogue on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought (DLDD) was convened recently with the support of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) to assess the progress made in fighting land degradation, and map the way forward on global efforts to revive and restore healthy land.
PM Modi is the President of the 14th Session of the Conference of Parties of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
What is Land Degradation and its impact?
Land degradation is caused by multiple forces, including extreme weather conditions, particularly drought and human activities that pollute or degrade the quality of soils and land utility.
It creates arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas.
It accelerates climate change and biodiversity loss.
It adds to droughts, wildfires, involuntary migration and the emergence of zoonotic infectious diseases.
Global Efforts to Check Land Degradation
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD): Sole legally binding international agreement
The Bonn Challenge: : To bring 150 million hectares of the world’s deforested and degraded land into restoration by 2020, and 350 million hectares by 2030.
Great Green Wall: Initiative by Global Environment Facility (GEF), where eleven countries in Sahel-Saharan Africa have focused efforts to fight against land degradation and revive native plant life to the landscape.
Steps Taken by India to deal land degradation
India is on track to achieve its national commitment on Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) (Sustainable Development Goal target 15.3).
It is working to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.
Over the last 10 years, around 3 million hectares of forest cover has been added.
India is assisting fellow developing countries to develop land restoration strategies.
A Centre of Excellence is being set up in India to promote a scientific approach towards land degradation issues. It is at Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education.
About UNCCD:
Established in 1994.
It is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management.
It is the only convention stemming from a direct recommendation of the Rio Conference’s Agenda 21.
Focus areas: The Convention addresses specifically the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, known as the drylands, where some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and peoples can be found.
