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Document on Land Degradation and Desertification

Posted on August 21, 2021 by admin1  1755

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According to a new ISRO atlas, around 29.7 per cent of India’s land is degraded.

Key Findings of Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India:

  • Land Degradation: 
    • Some 97.85 million hectares (MHA) of India’s total geographical area (TGA) of 328.72 MHA underwent land degradation during 2018-19.
      • Land degradation within dryland regions (arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid regions) is termed ‘desertification’.
    • This means that 29.7 per cent of the country’s land in that year became degraded.
  • Past 20 years trend: 
  • In 2003-05, 94.53 MHA (28.76 per cent of the TGA) underwent land degradation. 
  • The number increased to 96.40 MHA (29.32 per cent of the TGA) in 2011-13.
  • Desertification increased: 
  • Besides land degradation, desertification had also increased. Some 83.69 MHA underwent desertification in 2018-19. This was greater than the 81.48 MHA in 2003-2005 and 82.64 mha in 2011-13 that underwent desertification.
  • State Wise breakup:
    • Around 23.79 per cent of the area undergoing desertification/land degradation with respect to TGA of the country was contributed by Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Ladakh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana.
    • India witnessed an increase in the level of desertification in 28 of 31 states and Union territories between 2011-13 and 2018-19, a closer look at data in the atlas showed. 
      • This included Goa and Odisha, where desertification had declined between 2003-05 and 2011-13.
    • Between 2003-05 and 2011-13, 25 of the 31 states and Union territories had seen an increase in the level of desertification.
    • However, land degradation and desertification were declining in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana in 2018-2019.

 

About Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas

  • Space Applications Centre (SAC), ISRO, Ahmedabad along with 19 concerned partner institutes has carried out an inventory and monitoring of desertification of the entire country using Indian Remote Sensing Satellites (IRS) data in Geographical Information System (GIS) environment.
  • The maps and salient findings compiled in the form of an Atlas was released on the occasion of “World Day to Combat Desertification”, on June 17, 2016, jointly organized by MoEF&CC, and Arid Zone Forest Research Institute (AFRI) at Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
  • This Atlas presents state-wise desertification and land degradation status maps depicting land use, the process of degradation and severity level. 
  • This was prepared using IRS Advanced Wide Field Sensor (AWiFS) data of 2011-13 and 2003-05 time frames in the GIS environment. 
  • Areas under desertification/land degradation for both time frames and changes are reported state-wise as well as for the entire country. 
  • Significance of outputs 
    • The outputs are helpful in prioritizing areas to be taken up for minimizing the impact of desertification and land degradation.
      • It may be noted that India is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Combating Desertification (UNCCD). 
      • The country is committed to combating desertification and land degradation and intends to achieve land degradation neutral status by 2030. 
      • MoEF&CC is the nodal Ministry for the implementation of the UNCCD. The status of India’s desertification and land degradation is an important contribution to India’s report to the UNCCD. 
      • Besides, concerned policymakers, regional planners and researchers can also use this Atlas as a ready reference.

 

Why does desertification occur?

  • Rainfall and surface runoff: 
    • Loss of soil cover, mainly due to rainfall and surface runoff, was one of the biggest reasons for desertification. It was responsible for 11.01 per cent of the desertification in the country, the ISRO atlas said.
  • Water erosion: 
    • In 2011-13, water erosion was responsible for 10.98 per cent of desertification in the country. In 2003-05, it was responsible for 10.83 per cent of desertification.
  • Vegetation degradation:
    • Vegetation degradation was found to be responsible for 9.15 per cent of desertification in the country. In 2003-05, it was responsible for 8.60 per cent of desertification.
  • Wind erosion:
    • Wind erosion was found to be responsible for 5.46 per cent of the desertification in India. In 2003-05, it was responsible for 5.58 per cent of desertification.

Way Ahead

  • Desertification and land degradation are major threats to agricultural productivity in India. 
  • Combating desertification and land degradation is one of the thrust areas identified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India. 
  • The PM of India mentioned that India was working to restore 26 MHA of degraded land by 2030 while speaking at the UN High-Level Dialogue on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought.

Sources: DTE

 
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