Syllabus
GS Paper 3 – Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
Applications where to apply?
When asked about
– Desertification
– UNCCD
– Sustainable Agriculture
– Land reforms
Context
Fragmented approach to land management necessitates urgent intervention and policy reform.
Source
The Hindu | Editorial dated 27th February 2024
An expansive land management policy is overdue
Introduction
The management of land is pivotal to sustaining ecological balance, economic prosperity, and societal well-being. However, the multi-dimensional nature of land often escapes attention in conventional land management practices, leading to degradation and environmental crises.
Globally, the annual losses of ecosystem services due to land degradation has been estimated at $6 trillion.
Desertification is a serious problem in India. It is estimated that nearly 30% of the country’s land area is degraded.
Causes of Desertification
Natural Causes:
- Climate Variability: Fluctuations in long-term climate patterns, including extended droughts and changes in precipitation, can result in decreased soil moisture and heightened evaporation rates.
- Geomorphology: Natural geological processes, such as the gradual expansion of sand dunes or erosion, can transform landscapes into arid and desert-like environments over time.
- Soil Characteristics: Certain soil types possess inherent traits that make them more susceptible to aridification, such as low water retention capacity, diminished fertility, and susceptibility to erosion.
- Topography: Steep slopes and rugged terrain can exacerbate water runoff and erosion, exacerbating land degradation and the onset of desertification.
Anthropogenic Causes:
- Deforestation: The clearance of forests for agriculture, logging, and urbanization diminishes vegetation cover, leading to increased soil erosion, loss of soil fertility, and reduced water retention.
- Overgrazing: Unsustainable grazing practices by livestock result in the removal of vegetation, soil compaction, and erosion, accelerating the process of land degradation.
- Unsustainable Agriculture: Improper farming techniques such as excessive tilling, monoculture farming, and inappropriate irrigation methods degrade soil quality, diminishing productivity and contributing to desertification.
- Urbanization and Infrastructure Development: Construction, urban expansion, and infrastructure projects often lead to soil compaction, reduced vegetation cover, and heightened susceptibility to erosion.
- Mining and Extractive Industries: Extractive activities can disrupt landscapes, degrade soil quality, and introduce pollutants into the environment, further exacerbating the process of desertification.
Government Schemes to combat desertification
The Government is implementing several schemes/programmes to combat desertification, which include, inter –alia:
- National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEB) is implementing National Afforestation Programme (NAP) for ecological restoration of degraded forests and adjoining areas through people’s participation. The scheme is implemented through 3 tier institutional set up of State Forest Development Agency (SFDA) at State level, Forest Development agency (FDA) at Forest Division Level and Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) at village level. .
- National Mission for Green India (GIM) aims at protecting, restoring and enhancing India’s forest cover by means of plantation activities in forest and non-forest areas.
- Demand driven action oriented research work is carried out through projects under National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS). Certain projects include the development of models for land reclamation, soil conservation and watershed management, etc.
- Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) is implemented under Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojna, with objective to develop rainfed and degraded lands. The activities undertaken include , inter-alia, ridge area treatment, drainage line treatment, soil and moisture conservation, rainwater harvesting, nursery raising, pasture development, livelihoods, etc through interventions to ensure sustainable development and improved natural resource management with better resilience to climate change
Challenges in India’s Land Management
- Fragmented Land Management Practices:
- Sectoral approach by different departments leads to disjointed strategies.
- Lack of coordination among stakeholders exacerbates the issue.
- Ownership and Decision-Making:
- Private ownership of cultural land complicates land-use decisions.
- Knowledge Gaps and Short-Term Bias:
- Limited understanding of sustainable land management practices.
- Short-term planning biases hinder long-term sustainability efforts.
- Environmental Degradation and Climate Change:
- Degraded land accounts for a significant portion of India’s geographical area.
- Climate change introduces new challenges, such as extreme weather events.
Multi-Stakeholder Approach for Integrated Land Management
- Establishment of Multi-Stakeholder Platforms:
- Create platforms at district and sub-district levels to engage farmers, policymakers, civil society, and businesses.
- Leverage Article 243ZD (1) of the Constitution to activate district planning committees for comprehensive land management planning.
- Adoption of Landscape Approach:
- Embrace a landscape approach to assess land potential and allocate resources effectively.
- Facilitate evaluation, negotiation, and decision-making processes through a comprehensive understanding of landscapes.
- Promotion of Climate-Smart Practices:
- Integrate climate-smart practices into land management strategies.
- Align objectives with climate goals, agricultural productivity, livelihood improvement, and biodiversity conservation.
Institutional Support for Integrated Land Management
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s special report on ‘Climate Change and Land’ (2019) suggested country-level stocktaking of land management practices.
- Recognition of Land as a System:
- Acknowledge the systemic nature of land and promote integrated landscape management.
- Emphasize the importance of landscapes for individual and social well-being.
- Institutional Reform and Policy Alignment:
- Advocate for institutional reforms to support integrated land management.
- Align government policies and targets with the complexities of land management, farming, and environmental conservation.
- Lessons from International Practices:
- Learn from international experiences, such as the European Landscape Convention and the U.K. Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology in its Brief 42, ‘Sustainable land management: managing land better for environmental benefits’, cautioned the U.K. government about the failure of existing government policies and targets to address the complexities of land management, farming, and the natural environment.
- Similar parliamentary deliberations can be taken up in India.
Conclusion
In summary, integrated land management demands collaboration across sectors and active engagement from all stakeholders. Embracing a landscape approach and bolstering institutional support are critical steps towards sustainable land use practices. As India faces evolving challenges, proactive measures and inclusive governance are essential to safeguard our natural resources and foster resilient communities.
Related Topics
The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is an international agreement that addresses the issue of desertification, which is the process of land degradation in drylands. It was adopted in 1994 and entered into force in 1996.
The UNCCD is the only legally binding international agreement that links the environment and development to sustainable land management. It is one of the three Rio Conventions, alongside the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
The UNCCD’s objectives are to:
- Combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought
- Improve the living conditions of affected populations
- Maintain and restore land and soil productivity
The Convention is based on a bottom-up approach, which means that it encourages the participation of local people in combating desertification. It also emphasizes the importance of international cooperation and partnership arrangements.
India is also a party to the UNCCD and is committed to achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) by 2030. LDN is a state where the amount and quality of land resources, necessary to support ecosystem functions and services and enhance food security, remains stable or increases.
The UNCCD is an important tool for addressing the global challenge of desertification. It provides a framework for international cooperation and action, and it has helped to make progress in combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought.
References
Practice Question
Examine the need for land management policy in light of increasing land-degradation in India. [250 words]
How to approach this question?
1. Introduction
- Start with a brief introduction about the issue of land degradation in India and its implications.
2. Need for Land Management Policy
- Discuss the need for a land management policy in India. Highlight the issues such as loss of biodiversity, impact on agricultural productivity, and displacement of people.
- Use data and examples to substantiate your points.
3. Current State of Land Management in India
- Discuss the current state of land management in India. Evaluate the effectiveness of existing policies and their limitations.
4. Benefits of a Comprehensive Land Management Policy
- Discuss the potential benefits of a comprehensive land management policy. These could include sustainable use of land resources, conservation of biodiversity, improved agricultural productivity, and social and economic stability.
5. Suggested Reforms
- Suggest reforms or strategies that could be included in the land management policy to address the issue of land degradation. These could include sustainable farming practices, afforestation, soil conservation measures, and community participation in land management.
6. Conclusion
- Conclude by emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive land management policy in addressing the issue of land degradation and promoting sustainable development in India.
Remember to provide a balanced answer, incorporating relevant facts and figures, and propose feasible solutions. Structure your answer well, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Also, ensure that your answer is within the word limit specified for the exam. Good luck!