Mains Practice Questions

Approach

• Introduce by defining land degradation
• Highlight the major causes of land degradation and desertification
• Delve into the consequences of land degradation and desertification
• Suggest strategies for sustainable land management
• Conclude by mentioning India’s Land Degradation Neutrality Target

Introduction

Land degradation refers to the deterioration or loss of the productive capacity of land resources, including soil, vegetation, and water resources.

• It is a complex process that involves the degradation of physical, chemical, and biological properties of land, leading to a decline in its ability to support various ecosystem services and human activities.

Major Causes of Land Degradation and Desertification (by Region):

• Arid and Semi-Arid Regions (Rajasthan, Gujarat, Parts of Maharashtra):
  • Overgrazing: Excessive grazing by livestock removes vegetation cover, exposing soil to wind and water erosion (e.g Thar Desert in Rajasthan experiencing desertification due to overgrazing by goats).
  • Deforestation: Unsustainable tree felling for fuelwood and timber reduces soil moisture retention and increases wind erosion (e.g., deforestation in the Aravalli Hills leading to declining soil fertility and dust storms in surrounding areas).
  • Climate Change: Erratic rainfall patterns, rising temperatures, and increased frequency of droughts exacerbate desertification (e.g., erratic monsoon rains in Maharashtra impacting crop yields and soil moisture).
• Deccan Plateau (Parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana):
  • Salinization: Excessive use of canal irrigation without proper drainage salinizes the soil, rendering it unfit for cultivation (e.g., salinization problems in parts of Andhra Pradesh).
  • Mining Activities: Open-cast mining disturbs the natural soil profile and pollutes land with heavy metals (e.g., Jharia coalfields of Jharkhand have led to land subsidence).
• The Himalayan Region:
  • Unsustainable Tourism Practices: Uncontrolled tourist footfall and infrastructure development cause soil compaction and degradation (e.g., Joshimath Land Subsidence).
  • Climate Change: Glacial retreat due to rising temperatures disrupts the hydrological cycle, impacting downstream water availability (e.g. the melting of Himalayan glaciers could turn the Ganga into a seasonal river, jeopardizing agriculture in the Gangetic plain).

Consequences of Land Degradation and Desertification:

• Reduced Agricultural Productivity: Loss of soil fertility and moisture retention leads to lower crop yields, impacting food security.
• Water Scarcity: Degradation reduces groundwater recharge, leading to water scarcity for drinking and irrigation purposes (e.g., recent water crisis in Bengaluru).
• Loss of Biodiversity: Degradation disrupts ecosystems, leading to habitat loss and species extinction (e.g.,pink-headed duck and sumatran rhino have become extinct due to desertification in India).
• Increased Migration: Land degradation can force people to migrate to urban areas in search of a better livelihood (e.g., migration from villages in Odisha due to soil erosion and water scarcity).

Strategies for Sustainable Land Management:

• Permaculture and Regenerative Agriculture: Encouraging the adoption of permaculture principles, which involve designing sustainable and self-sufficient agricultural systems that mimic natural ecosystems.
  • Promoting regenerative agriculture practices, such as no-till farming, cover cropping, and crop rotation, to improve soil health and fertility while reducing erosion and nutrient depletion.
• Landscape Restoration through Ecological Corridors and Rewilding: Establishing ecological corridors and habitat connectivity between protected areas and degraded lands to facilitate the movement of species and enhance biodiversity.
  • Implementing rewilding projects, where degraded lands are allowed to recover naturally through the reintroduction of native plant and animal species, promoting ecosystem restoration and resilience.
• Integration of Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Incorporating the traditional ecological knowledge of indigenous communities and their sustainable land management practices into modern conservation strategies.
  • Encouraging the revival and promotion of traditional agroforestry systems.
• Promotion of Sustainable Urbanization: Encouraging sustainable urban planning and design that incorporates green spaces, urban forests, and green infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of urbanization on land resources.
• Bioremediation and Phytoremediation Techniques: Exploring the use of microorganisms and plants for the bioremediation of contaminated and degraded lands, harnessing their natural ability to absorb, metabolize, or immobilize pollutants.
  • Encouraging the use of phytoremediation techniques, such as the cultivation of specific plant species that can extract, sequester, or degrade contaminants from soil, water, and air.

Conclusion

Sustainable land management practices must be tailored to the specific ecological, socio-economic, and cultural contexts of each region and in this way India can achieve its ambitious goal of restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.