lR;eso t;rs - Ministry of Environment and Forests

Desertification
In India, 228.3 Mha. of geographical area comprises arid
(50.8 Mha.), semi-arid (123.4 Mha.) and dry sub-humid regions
(54.1 Mha.). Western parts of Rajasthan and Kutch are
chronically drought affected. As a matter of fact, droughts occur
frequently in the areas affected by desertification (Figure 2.1.5).
Figure 2.1.5: Drought Prone Areas of India
Source: State of Environment Atlas of India 2007, MoEF
Pollution
Box 2.1.1: Drivers and Pressures Affecting Forest Ecosystems
Population pressure, poverty and weak institutional framework have often been viewed as the predominant underlying causes
of forest depletion and degradation in developing countries. Excessive population and livestock pressure and the requirements
of forest products for essential development generate pressure on forest resources like fuel-wood, fodder, timber, lumber, paper,
which in turn triggers deforestation. Over-exploitation of the forest resources, as compared to its incremental and regenerative
capacities, escalates the forest depletion and degradation process. India has witnessed a spurt of large projects from big dams
and thermal power projects to huge mines and massive industrial complexes. About 92 per cent area in arid Rajasthan is affected
by desertification (30 per cent slightly, 41 per cent moderately and 21 per cent severely). In the neighbouring arid Gujarat, about
93 per cent area is affected by desertification.
Soil pollution from heavy metals due to improper disposal of
industrial effluents, along with the excessive use of pesticides
and mismanagement of domestic and municipal wastes, is
becoming a major concern. Though no reliable estimates are
available to depict the exact extent and degree of this type of land
degradation, it is believed that the problem is extensive and its
effects are significant. Some commercial fertilizers also contain
appreciable quantities of heavy metals, which have undesirable
effects on the environment. The indiscriminate use of agrochemicals,
such as fertilizers and pesticides, is often responsible
for land degradation. Soil texture, infiltration and permeability
characteristics are affected adversely to a considerable extent due
to excessive grazing, fire and mismanagement of land under
cultivation.
RESPONSE
1. Watershed management programmes have been taken up
extensively in the recent past. The Soil and Water
Conservation Division in the Ministry of Agriculture has
been playing a key role in implementing Integrated
Watershed Management Programmes. IWDP (Integrated
Watershed Development Programme) was launched in the
year 1989-90 to develop the wastelands on watershed basis,
to strengthen the natural resource base and to promote the
overall economic development of the resource-poor and
disadvantaged sections of people inhabiting the programme
areas.
2. The National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning,
the Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and
Training Institute and the Indian Council of Agricultural
Research (ICAR), have jointly initiated the preparation of
maps of soil erosion affected areas in different states using the
components of Universal Soil Loss Equation. Similar
assessments needs to be carried out for other degradation
processes also. In addition, the All-India Soil and Land Use
Survey, MoA, is engaged in generating spatial and nonspatial
information on the soils of India and preparing
Wasteland reclamation through Dhaincha plantation
State & Trends of the Environment-Land
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