Syllabus
GS Paper 3 – Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Context
The nature restoration law enacted by the European Union recently is a model worth following.
Source
The Hindu| Editorial dated 22nd October 2024
The case for a nature restoration law in India
The degradation of natural ecosystems is a pressing global issue, and India, with nearly 30% of its land affected by degradation , urgently needs a comprehensive approach to restore its environment. Drawing inspiration from the European Union’s (EU) Nature Restoration Law (NRL), India can address its environmental challenges through targeted legislative actions aimed at restoring its degraded ecosystems and ensuring long-term sustainability.
EU’s Nature Restoration Law (NRL)
- Adopted by the EU in 2024: The NRL was passed by the EU’s Environmental Council, supported by a majority of member states representing 66.07% of the EU population.
- Restoration Targets: It mandates that 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas be restored by 2030, with full restoration of all ecosystems by 2050.
- Focus Areas: The law targets a wide range of ecosystems including forests, agricultural lands, rivers, and urban spaces.
- Specific Measures: Includes restoring 25,000 km of rivers to free-flowing conditions and planting three billion trees by 2030, with the goal of reversing biodiversity loss and improving habitat conditions.
India’s Environmental Challenges
- Land Degradation: According to ISRO’s Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas, 29.7% (97.85 million hectares) of India’s land experienced degradation in 2018-19, a rise from 94.53 million hectares in 2003-05.
- Desertification: Approximately 83.69 million hectares were impacted by desertification, particularly in states such as Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.
- Current Efforts: India has implemented initiatives like the
- Green India Mission: Focuses on increasing forest cover, improving forest quality, and enhancing ecosystem services like carbon sequestration.
- Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): Aims to improve irrigation efficiency, ensure water access to farms, and promote sustainable agriculture.
- Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP): Works to restore soil and water resources in rainfed areas, improving agricultural productivity and water availability.
- National Afforestation Programme (NAP): Promotes afforestation and reforestation efforts to increase forest cover and biodiversity through community-driven initiatives.
- Need for a Comprehensive Approach: Despite these efforts, the scale of degradation demands a more robust legislative solution similar to the EU’s NRL to ensure the restoration of India’s ecosystems.
Components of a Nature Restoration Law for India
- Restoration Targets: Set a goal to restore 20% of degraded land by 2030, with full restoration by 2050, covering ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, rivers, agricultural lands, and urban green spaces.
- Wetland Restoration: Focus on restoring 30% of critical wetlands, including biodiversity-rich areas like the Sundarbans and Chilika Lake, essential for carbon sequestration.
- Biodiversity in Agriculture: Promote agroforestry and sustainable agriculture to restore degraded farmlands. Use indicators such as the butterfly or bird index to track biodiversity progress.
- River Restoration: Restore major rivers like the Ganga and Yamuna by addressing pollution, obstructions, and restoring free-flowing river ecosystems.
Urban Green Spaces and Economic Benefits
- Urban Restoration: Combat urban degradation by ensuring no net loss of green spaces, and promote urban forests in cities facing heat islands like Bengaluru and Delhi.
- Economic Returns: According to the World Economic Forum, global nature restoration could generate economic returns of up to $10 trillion annually by 2030.
- Job Creation: Restoring degraded lands would boost agricultural productivity, improve water security, and create millions of jobs, particularly in rural areas.
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) : The law would help India achieve SDG 15, which focuses on the sustainable management of forests and combating desertification.
Climate Change Mitigation and Global Impact
- Mitigating Climate Change:
- Degraded land loses its capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, exacerbating climate change.
- Restoring ecosystems can enhance carbon sinks, aiding India’s Paris Agreement commitments.
- Precedent for Global Action:
- The EU’s NRL sets an example for countries worldwide, including India, to take legal action to combat land degradation and biodiversity loss.
- Socio-Economic Development:
- A nature restoration law in India could contribute to socio-economic development, enhance climate resilience, and ensure long-term sustainability of ecosystems.
Conclusion
The EU’s Nature Restoration Law serves as an inspiring model for countries like India that are grappling with severe land degradation and biodiversity loss. A similar law in India could help restore ecosystems, generate economic and social benefits, and mitigate the effects of climate change. With nearly 30% of its land already degraded, India must act now to implement a comprehensive nature restoration law that ensures both environmental sustainability and socio-economic progress.
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Practice Question
What lessons can India learn from the European Union’s Nature Restoration Law (NRL) to address its own environmental challenges? Suggest measures India can adopt to restore its degraded ecosystems? [250 words]
Guidelines for Answering the Question
- Introduction:
- Briefly mention the EU’s Nature Restoration Law and its objectives.
- Highlight the environmental degradation challenges faced by India, making the need for a restoration law urgent.
- Body:
- Discuss restoration targets and how setting specific goals can guide India’s efforts.
- Mention the broad focus on various ecosystems (forests, rivers, wetlands) and how India can adopt a similar approach.
- Explain the significance of biodiversity indicators and the use of agroforestry and sustainable practices.
- Conclusion:
- Summarize the importance of a comprehensive nature restoration law for India.
- Emphasize the need for timely action to restore ecosystems for environmental sustainability and economic growth.