Latest news with #WorldDaytoCombatDesertificationandDrought
Express Tribune
4 hours ago
- General
- Express Tribune
CM urges Indus delta preservation
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said on Tuesday that water is life, and protecting natural resources is a collective responsibility. In a message on the occasion of "World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought", CM Sindh further stated that June 17 is a day to raise awareness against the factors that are turning land into deserts, increasing drought, and affecting the environment. He said that the provincial government is working on projects like tree plantation, rainwater harvesting, and modern water management to prevent land from becoming desert. CM Shah warned that if the Indus River's water does not reach the sea, our coastal belt could be wiped out. He stressed that maintaining the natural flow of the Indus River is essential to keep the Indus Delta alive. The chief minister said that lower riparian rights are recognised globally in the context of environmental justice. He added that ensuring water access to the Indus delta is a demand of environmental justice to protect the land, environment, and life.
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Restoring forests key to carbon capture: Govt paper
The largest potential of creating additional carbon sinks is through restoration of degraded forests, which have impaired in the last 15 to 20 years, along with afforestation of open forests, wastelands and agroforestry, according to the National Mission for Green India document released by the environment ministry on Tuesday. Restoration of natural forests through plantations can contribute up to 60% of the total carbon sink which can be achieved by 2030, the report released on the occasion of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought by union environment minister, Bhupender Yadav has said. It is also indicated by the Forest Survey of India evaluation that to bring about an increase in carbon sink (CO2 equivalent billion tonnes) by 2.51 and 3.39 by 2030, as committed by India in its nationally determined contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, a corresponding increase of 18.71 and 24.69 million hectares of enhanced forest and tree cover area would be required respectively. The Green India Mission is being implemented during the 10-year period from 2021 to 2030. A part of these plantation activities have already taken place. Annual afforestation/ tree plantation at the current trend of over 2 million hectares should cover another 12 million hectares during 2025-30, the report has said. Ten categories of activities have been considered by FSI for the potential increase in carbon sink and forest cover in the country and include afforestation of impaired forests, open forests, wastelands, agroforestry, setting up of green corridors, undertaking plantations along roads and railways on railway sidings, along rivers and canals and creation of urban green spaces. The National Governing Council of the Mission will be chaired by Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav and the National Executive Council will be headed by the secretary, environment. There will be a Mission Director of the Green India Mission who will be the member-secretary of the National Governing Council. The Mission Directorate chaired by the Mission Director will have overall accountability for the Mission deliverables at the National level and will be supported by a team of experts and secretarial staff, the report said. 'The scale and the magnitude of the national effort required for the restoration of degraded land and an improvement of tree cover would imminently require the proactive involvement of all the stakeholders. An active association and involvement of the private sector will, therefore, be pursued as a strategy for funding some of the interventions under the Mission,' the report stated. It added that private sector can be involved via companies utilising wood and wood-based raw material to develop their supply chain by involving the community through join forest management committees and panchayat bodies; contributions from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds for restoration of vulnerable and critical areas or adoption of certain villages by supporting committed individuals or groups could act as a feather in the cap for the private entity concerned and by undertaking greening of vacant institutional lands through the institution owning the land. During an event on combating desertification in Jodhpur on Tuesday, Yadav said a significant portion of India's land is facing challenges due to desertification, primarily caused by unsustainable agricultural practices, excessive use of fertilisers like urea, and indiscriminate pesticide application. 'Such practices not only degrade the land but also pose a threat to food security and biodiversity. In line with India's commitment to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, the government has adopted a comprehensive approach focusing on ecosystem restoration, drought resilience, and biodiversity enhancement. To address the challenges, Centre will focus on: Amrit Sarovars: aimed at rejuvenating water bodies; Matri Van: planting trees in Aravalli region; Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam: a nationwide movement to plant trees,' he said. Garnering the commitment of institutions, both public and private, commercial and non-commercial, can be explored through existing laws and guidelines. State agencies can help these institutions by providing planting material and technical know-how whereas the institution can provide watch and ward and inputs in addition to land. Harvesting of such plantations may be allowed at the request of the owner or user of the land as per their need and request without any liability or compensation, the report has said. The Mission will also focus on highly vulnerable landscapes, including Aravalli landscape, Western Ghats, arid regions of North West India, mangroves in coastal areas, Indian Himalayan region and degraded bamboo forests, on priority for enhancing ecosystem services and carbon sink. The financial outlay under the Mission is ₹12,190 crore for implementation of afforestation activities over 1.0 million hectare during the period of 10 years (2021-30). The Mission costs will be met partly from the budget ( ₹5,000 crore) under the ongoing Green India Mission scheme and balance from funds available under the National Fund of CAMPA ( ₹7,190 crore), the report said. 'Desertification, as we know, is not only an ecological problem, but a direct threat to food security, public health and economic stability. Highlighted that with PM Narendra Modi ji in the lead, India has launched the National Action Plan for Combating Desertification. To date, over 30 crore Soil Health Cards have been generated nationwide, enabling farmers to make informed decisions regarding fertiliser. India has also rolled out the iconic Aravalli Green Wall initiative to combat desertification,' Yadav wrote on X.
Express Tribune
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
'Water scarcity eroding agricultural capacity'
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has called for immediate and sustained efforts to protect land and natural resources for future generations. In her message on the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, the CM warned that the unchecked effects of climate change, deforestation and growing water scarcity are rapidly eroding agricultural capacity and degrading soil fertility across Punjab. "Drought is not just a layer of sand, it is the signal of a looming environmental crisis," she said. Underscoring her government's commitment to environmental protection, the CM announced that the Punjab government has allocated special funds in the 2025-26 budget for geotagging water-stressed areas. She said new filtration plants will be installed and existing ones repaired to ensure access to clean water across the province. CM Maryam Nawaz highlighted Punjab's leadership in climate action, noting the introduction of Pakistan's first comprehensive Climate Policy aimed at addressing the challenges posed by environmental degradation. She also reaffirmed the government's resolve to expand the Plant for Pakistan campaign, which is focused on greening barren lands. "Every tree is a symbol of life in drought-hit regions. We will not let the earth suffocate, changing our habits is the only way to change the environment," she added.
Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Revised Green India Mission plan: Centre to focus on Aravalli, Western Ghats restoration
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will focus on restoration of vulnerable landscapes like Aravallis and Western Ghats mountain ranges, along with mangroves and Indian Himalayan region, as per the revised Green India Mission (GIM) document. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav released the revised document for 2021-2030 period at Jodhpur Tuesday, at an event marking the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. The revised document stated that a 'micro-ecosystem' approach will be adopted to make interventions in the vulnerable landscapes like Aravallis, Western Ghats, arid regions of North West India, mangroves and the Indian Himalayan region. The National Mission for a Green India was launched in February 2014 by the UPA government and is one of the eight core missions under India's National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). GIM's main objective is to protect, restore, and enhance India's forest and tree cover, using a blend of climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. One of the core objectives of the mission was to increase forest and tree cover on 5 million hectares of forest and non-forest land and improve the quality of forest cover on another 5-million hectares. The revised mission document also projected, based on estimates of the Forest Survey of India (FSI), that India could achieve a carbon sink of 3.39 billion tonnes, from the combination of all restoration activities. This will require an increase in forest and tree cover over an estimated 24.7 million hectares. As part of its commitments under the Nationally Determined Contribution, the National Mission for Green India aims to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent through additional forest and tree cover. This is planned through restoration of open forests, tree plantation on wastelands, and plantations along railway lines and national highways, among other places. As per FSI's estimates, the largest potential of creating additional carbon sinks lies in the restoration of forests which have impaired in the last 15 to 20 years, along with restoration of open forests, agroforestry. India's net forest cover had increased only by 156.41 square kilometres between 2021 and 2023, as per the 2023 state of India's forest report. The country recorded loss of old growth forest, mangrove cover and saw a decline in forest cover across the Western Ghats, the report had said. Vulnerable landscapes like Western Ghats, the document said, will be restored through regionally conducive best practices for holistic landscape management including planting of native tree species, with high carbon sequestration potential. There would also be soil and moisture conservation activities to achieve land degradation neutrality. The Western Ghats eco-system, the document said, has degraded due to extensive deforestation, felling of trees and illegal mining of minerals. This has caused extensive pollution, worsening of air and water quality, depletion of groundwater and increased human-wildlife conflict. The mission's interventions were started in the year 2015-16 and about 11.22 million hectares of area could be included under plantations till 2020-21, as per the revised document. An award-winning journalist with 14 years of experience, Nikhil Ghanekar is an Assistant Editor with the National Bureau [Government] of The Indian Express in New Delhi. He primarily covers environmental policy matters which involve tracking key decisions and inner workings of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He also covers the functioning of the National Green Tribunal and writes on the impact of environmental policies on wildlife conservation, forestry issues and climate change. Nikhil joined The Indian Express in 2024. Originally from Mumbai, he has worked in publications such as Tehelka, Hindustan Times, DNA Newspaper, News18 and Indiaspend. In the past 14 years, he has written on a range of subjects such as sports, current affairs, civic issues, city centric environment news, central government policies and politics. ... Read More
India Gazette
10 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
MoEFCC organizes one-day national workshop on
Jodhpur (Rajasthan) [India], June 17 (ANI): On the occasion of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, organized a one-day national workshop at the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education - Arid Forest Research Institute (ICFRE-AFRI), Jodhpur. The theme of the event was 'Strategies for Combating Desertification and Drought', focusing on sustainable land management in arid and semi-arid ecosystems, according to a release by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The event was graced by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, as Chief Guest in august presence of Union Minister for Tourism and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), Rajendra Gehlot. Speaking on the inaugural session, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, highlighted India's proactive measures to combat desertification and promote ecological restoration. He emphasized the importance of sustainable agricultural practices, community-driven initiatives, and the preservation of natural ecosystems, according to the release. Union Minister Yadav pointed out that significant portion of India's land is facing challenges due to desertification, primarily caused by unsustainable agricultural practices, excessive use of fertilizers like urea, and indiscriminate pesticide application. He stressed that such practices not only degrade the land but also pose a threat to food security and biodiversity, the release added. In line with India's commitment to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, the government has adopted a comprehensive approach focusing on ecosystem restoration, drought resilience, and biodiversity enhancement. Yadav emphasized that healthy land is crucial for regional stability and economic prosperity, urging nations to join efforts in combating land degradation. According to address these challenges, following steps could help in restoring the ecological balance: Amrit Sarovars: Aiming to rejuvenate water bodies to combat desertification and support Van: Encouraging communities, especially in the Aravalli region, to plant trees in the name of their mothers, fostering a deep connection with nature. Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam: A nationwide movement initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where citizens plant trees in honor of their mothers, symbolizing respect for 'Mother Earth', the release stated. Yadav highlighted that these initiatives are not just about planting trees but about restoring ecological balance and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come. He further said that the Aravalli Mountain range, spanning 700 kilometers across 29 districts, holds significant ecological and cultural importance. Shri Yadav emphasized that the Aravallis are not only a natural barrier against desertification but also a cradle of India's civilization and heritage. He urged local communities to actively participate in conservation efforts and restore degraded areas through collaborative actions. Looking ahead to 2047, Yadav expressed confidence that India will achieve its green economy goals by integrating ecological sustainability with economic development. He reiterated that the nation's development trajectory will be aligned with ecological preservation, ensuring a harmonious balance between growth and environmental stewardship. Addressing on the occasion, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, emphasized the vital role of the Aravalli Mountain range in combating desertification and preserving ecological balance. Union Minister Shekhawat highlighted that while global forest cover has been declining, India has made significant strides in increasing its forest cover. He noted, 'The Aravalli Mountain range has been instrumental in water conservation, groundwater recharge, and maintaining biodiversity. It serves as a natural barrier against the advancing Thar Desert, protecting regions like Eastern Rajasthan, Haryana, and the National Capital Region. The Minister further stated, 'Our responsibility is immense. The Aravallis have sustained our civilization for thousands of years, and it is our duty to preserve this heritage for future generations,' Shekhawat also acknowledged the contributions of local communities in safeguarding the environment. He remarked, 'Many individuals have dedicated their lives to environmental conservation, embodying the spirit of vigilant environmental stewardship.' The workshop featured a series of technical sessions covering key themes in land restoration and desertification control. Discussions on Sustainable Land Management (SLM) highlighted MoEFCC and ICFRE institutes integrated, community-led restoration efforts. This was followed by presentations on Global and National case studies by development partners like UNDP, ADB, GIZ, KfW, AFD and World Bank. A dedicated session on the Aravalli Green Wall Project focused on inter-state collaboration to restore ecological balance in the Aravalli region. The final session addressed Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) through multi-stakeholder actions involving state governments, SAC, CAZRI, NGOs, and others. The event concluded with a wrap-up session affirming India's commitment to science-based, participatory, and policy-driven desertification mitigation, according to the release. This event reaffirmed India's leadership role under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and demonstrated its progress toward achieving land degradation neutrality by 2030, with a strong focus on knowledge exchange, collaboration, and field-level impact. This workshop is also part of India's broader efforts to address the environmental challenges of desertification, especially in vulnerable regions such as the Aravallis and the Thar Desert, the release added. The event was attended by DG, Forest Sushil Kumar Awasthi, ADG (Forest) Kanchan Devi, DG, ICFRE and Tarun Kant, Director, AFRI and other dignitaries and officials of central and state governments. (ANI)
