CONTEXT

• Land degradation affects 29% of India’s total land area, impacting livelihoods, food security, and biodiversity.
• India is a signatory to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), targeting land degradation neutrality by 2030.
• Karnataka is among the states severely impacted due to deforestation, urbanisation, and overgrazing.

CONCEPT: WHAT IS LAND DEGRADATION?

• UNCCD Definition: Reduction/loss of biological or economic productivity of land in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas due to:
  • Soil erosion (wind/water)
  • Loss of vegetation
  • Chemical/biological deterioration
  • Unplanned land use & human activities

MAJOR CAUSES OF LAND DEGRADATION

Unsustainable Agricultural Practices

• Excessive fertiliser and pesticide usage
• Continuous cropping without soil recovery
• Shifting cultivation on fragile soils

 Land Use Conversion

• Forest clearance for agriculture or development
• Unplanned urbanisation and infrastructure expansion

 Deforestation & Vegetation Loss

• Overgrazing by livestock
• Excessive fuelwood extraction
• Poor forest governance
• Incidence of forest fires

Climate-Linked Factors

• Increased drought frequency & severity due to global warming
• Erratic rainfall patterns disrupting hydrology

Water Mismanagement

• Inefficient irrigation systems (flood irrigation)
• Over-extraction of groundwater, leading to salinisation

Land Restoration: The Way Forward

• UNCCD: Restoration is the ecological revival of degraded land to benefit people, wildlife, and ecosystems.
• Boosts food security, combats climate impact, enhances soil productivity.
• Green India Mission: Central pillar of India’s land degradation combat strategy.

Current Data & Trends (ISFR 2023)

• India’s forest cover: 21.76%; Tree cover: 3.41% (Total: 25.17%)
• Net gain: Forest area up by 156.41 sq km (2021–2023)
• Tree cover increase: 1,285.4 sq km (from 2.91% to 3.41%)
• States with gains: Chhattisgarh, UP, Odisha, Rajasthan
• States with losses: MP, Karnataka, Ladakh, Nagaland
• Western Ghats loss: 58.22 sq km since 2013
• Mangrove decline: 7.43 sq km compared to 2021

MAINS QUESTIONS

1. What is land degradation, and how does it impact India’s livelihoods, food security, and biodiversity?
2. Discuss the major causes of land degradation in India, highlighting the role of unsustainable agricultural practices, deforestation, and water mismanagement.