Desertification and Sustainable Land Management
Environment & Ecology › Land, Forest and Soil Resources · Topic 10.2
Desertification is land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, caused by climatic variation and human activities, in which land loses its productive capacity and begins to resemble a desert. It is not the spread of existing deserts alone. The UNCCD, adopted in 1994 and in force since 1996, with its secretariat in Bonn, Germany, is the global treaty on the problem. India hosted its 14th Conference of the Parties (COP14) in Greater Noida in September 2019, which adopted the Delhi Declaration and where India announced a plan to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. The ISRO atlas shows that a large part of India's drylands, especially in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir, is affected. Sustainable Land Management (SLM) is the use of land, water, soil and plants to meet human needs while keeping their long-term productive potential and ecological functions, and it underlies Land Degradation Neutrality.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Environment & Ecology · Land, Forest and Soil Resources
At a Glance
- UNCCD adopted 1994, in force 1996
- Secretariat Bonn
- COP14 Greater Noida, 2019
- India goal Restore 26 Mha by 2030
- Day 17 June
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Environment & Ecology: Land, Forest and Soil Resources
Where Does It Fit?
This topic builds on the causes of land degradation and applies them to dry regions. It leads from soil and land to forests, with sustainable land management as the common solution. Previous topic: Causes and Impact of Land Degradation. Next topic: Survey of India, Dehradun Set up 1981 Report ISFR, every two years Forest cover Over 1 ha,…">Forest Survey of India (FSI) Definition of Forests and Types of Forest Cover.
What Is Desertification and How Is It Managed?
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Definition | Land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas from climate variation and human activities |
| Natural drivers | Drought, low and variable rain, strong winds and high temperature |
| Human drivers | Overgrazing, deforestation, over-cultivation, poor irrigation and fuelwood cutting |
| Indian hotspots | Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and parts of Jammu and Kashmir |
| Global treaty | UNCCD, adopted 1994, in force 1996, based on Agenda 21 and the Rio process |
| Land Degradation Neutrality | A target of no net loss of healthy land by balancing degradation with restoration |
| Day | 17 June is the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought |
Which Sustainable Land Management Methods Work?
- Watershed management: soil and water conservation on a catchment basis, as in the watershed schemes
- Agroforestry: trees with crops on the same land to stabilise soil and add income
- Afforestation and shelterbelts: rows of trees reduce wind erosion in dry areas
- Rotational grazing: limit animals and rest pastures
- Water harvesting: check dams, ponds and johads recharge groundwater
- Conservation agriculture: minimum tillage, cover crops and residue cover
- Efficient irrigation: drip and sprinkler cut salinity and waste
- Community role: village groups manage commons such as pasture
What Else Should You Remember?
- Desertification not desert spread: it is land productivity loss, not necessarily advance of desert sand
- Drylands: cover about 40 percent of the world’s land and are home to a large share of people
- UNCCD pillars: parties prepare national action programmes with local participation
- COP14 Delhi Declaration: emphasised land restoration, gender, drought resilience and land rights
- Bonn Challenge: a global effort to restore degraded and deforested land, to which India pledged 26 Mha by 2030
- Great Green Wall: an African initiative to plant a belt of trees across the Sahel
- Drought: a major trigger, especially when combined with overuse of land
- Thar Desert: India’s major hot desert, which has grown thin vegetation and sand movement in some areas
- Indira Gandhi Canal: brought irrigation to the Thar but also caused waterlogging and salinity in places
- Desert Development Programme: a scheme to control desertification in hot and cold deserts
- Drought Prone Areas Programme: a similar scheme for drought-prone blocks
- Integrated Watershed Management Programme: now part of the PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana watershed component
- Central Arid Zone Research Institute: CAZRI at Jodhpur is the leading dryland research body
- Sand dune stabilisation: planting grasses and shrubs such as Prosopis and Calligonum to fix dunes
- Land tenure: secure rights encourage farmers to invest in soil care
- Land restoration: natural regeneration is cheaper than planting where seed sources remain
- SDG 15.3: Sustainable Development Goal target to achieve a land degradation neutral world by 2030
- Sand and dust storms: a growing cause of health and farm damage in dry regions
- Climate link: warming and drought extend the area at risk
- Link to previous: see Causes and Impact of Land Degradation
- Link to next: see Forest Survey of India (FSI) Definition of Forests and Types of Forest Cover
- Link to convention: see United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
- Caution: restoration targets and area figures are revised in national reports, so check the latest government statements
- Exam hint: learn 1994, 1996, Bonn, COP14 Greater Noida 2019 and the 26 Mha target
- Delhi Declaration: the COP14 outcome called for land rights, gender equality and drought preparedness
- Land Degradation Neutrality target: India says it aims to restore degraded land by 2030, in line with the Bonn Challenge and LDN
- Dust storms: degraded dry land adds to dust storms that cross borders
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Treaty: UNCCD 1994
- India event: COP14, 2019
- Target: 26 Mha by 2030
- Current affairs link: Land restoration and LDN
- Common errors: confusing UNCCD with UNFCCC or placing COP14 in Delhi city
As an analytical point, dryland degradation hits the poorest first, since farmers and herders there depend directly on the land. Restoration works best where it combines water harvesting, tree cover and secure local rights.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Where Drylands
- Treaty UNCCD
- Method SLM
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the Forest Survey of India definition of forests and types of forest cover. Next topic: Forest Survey of India (FSI) Definition of Forests and Types of Forest Cover.
Key People and Terms
- Desertification Dryland degradation
- UNCCD Desertification treaty
- SLM Sustainable Land Management
- LDN Land Degradation Neutrality
- Shelterbelt Wind-break tree rows
- Agroforestry Trees with crops
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- UNCCD adopted in 1994.
- India hosted COP14 in 2019.
- Goal: 26 Mha by 2030.
- Secretariat: Bonn.
- Day: 17 June.
Do Not Confuse With
- UNCCD and UNFCCC Desertification versus climate treaty
- Desertification and desert Process versus landform
- SLM and LDN Practice versus target
Memory Hook
Ninety-four treaty, nineteen in Noida, twenty-six million to restore.
Mains Angle
Questions ask for the treaty and India’s goals. These points help.
- Meaning Dryland loss
- Causes Climate, use
- Way SLM
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“What is desertification? Discuss its causes and the measures for sustainable land management in India.”
How to Answer
- Define Dryland loss.
- Causes Climate, overuse.
- India COP14.
- Way SLM.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is desertification?
Desertification is land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, caused by climatic variation and human activities such as overgrazing and unsustainable farming. It does not simply mean deserts spreading; it means drylands losing their productive capacity and becoming more desert-like, with loss of vegetation, soil and water.
What is the UNCCD?
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification is the global treaty adopted in 1994 and in force since 1996, with its secretariat in Bonn, Germany. It aims to combat desertification and mitigate drought effects, especially in Africa, through national action programmes and partnerships, and it promotes land degradation neutrality.
What happened at UNCCD COP14 in India?
The 14th Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD was held in Greater Noida, India, in September 2019. It adopted the Delhi Declaration, and India announced that it would raise its target of restoring degraded land to 26 million hectares by 2030. India held the COP presidency until the next meeting.
What is sustainable land management?
Sustainable land management is the use of land, water, soil and plants in a way that meets present human needs while keeping their long-term productivity and ecological functions. It includes watershed management, agroforestry, conservation farming, rotational grazing, water harvesting and community management, and it supports land degradation neutrality.
Which parts of India are affected by desertification?
The ISRO atlas shows that large dryland areas of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Jammu and Kashmir are undergoing desertification or land degradation. Rajasthan's Thar Desert region is the best known, where wind erosion, overgrazing and water shortage combine.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The UNCCD was adopted in 1994.
It came into force in 1996.
2 COP14 of the UNCCD was held in Delhi city in 2022.
In Greater Noida, 2019.
3 India aims to restore 26 million hectares by 2030.
The announced target.
4 Desertification occurs only in hot deserts.
In drylands generally.
Past Mains Questions on This Topic
This topic comes under Land, Forest and Soil Resources. UPSC Mains questions asked on the matching syllabus topic, year-wise with marks:
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