Introduction
Environmental issues are one of the contemporary problems that have plagued the human race. The earth is not just a single ecosystem, and this means that it is difficult to anticipate how change in one sector can affect other aspects. One such part of an ecosystem is the desert – and the Indian desert is currently undergoing drastic changes due to climate change. Irrefutably, the effects of climate change have the potential to decimate human civilisation. This article makes an effort to throw some light on one of the biggest environmental problems ‘Desertification’ through the prism of environmental laws and policies.
What triggers desertification in India?
‘Desertification’ essentially means land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities. It is one of the alarming environmental concerns, being deliberately disregarded by mankind.
Needless to say, humans have wreaked havoc on mother nature. Although there exist numerous factors that have led to the propulsion of desertification in India, human activities lead the list. Additionally, changing climate also plays a pivotal role in desertification. The following are some paramount causes of desertification in India:-
- Overgrazing: Livestock primarily feed on vegetation. Sometimes, the grazing happens excessively or very frequently (i.e. the animals come again to eat the grass before it recovers and produces seeds) which is termed as overgrazing. Consequently, the grazing land loses its productivity, gradually turns barren and therefore, no further vegetation grows leading to drought-like situations. Such areas become more susceptible to desertification.
- Deforestation: The process of cutting down the trees and clearing the forest areas for non-forest use like urbanisation, mining activities etc. is called deforestation. It is one of the root causes of all the environmental issues. Loss of vegetation and forest area make land vulnerable to soil erosion and drought and brings desertification along with.
- Urbanisation: The expansion of urban lands at the cost of forest areas under the shield of development is also one of the prominent causes of desertification. In the past few years, Goa has experienced rapid urbanisation and is listed among the most urbanised states of India[1].
- Uncontrolled Population: It is the driving force behind the increasing urbanisation and deforestation which ultimately leads to desertification.
- Over-exploitation of resources: Increase in population would augment the demand for land resources, making the land area more exposed to desertification.
- Climate Change: The world is witnessing drastic climate change for a while. An inconsistent pattern has been observed in the temperature, rainfall, winds and solar radiation which indeed has exacerbated desertification.
- Unsustainable agricultural practices: Desertification and agriculture have a bilateral relation. On one hand, it is always emphasised to promote agriculture especially in a country like India where 58% of the overall population depends on agriculture for their livelihood[2]; but on the other hand, intensive farming practices incite adverse effects on biodiversity. Tilling of soil, excessive use of fertilisers and pesticides, poor irrigation system, monoculture, etc. constitute unsustainable agricultural practices. Such farming practices turn soil unfertile and cause land degradation. Perhaps, it is a well-settled fact that desertification can be reversed with proper and efficient farming.
Impact of Desertification: Why is desertification a problem?
The impact of environmental issues are not instantly visible. It affects our lives in the long run and has an irreversible impact on the environment. It is said that ‘as a man sows, so shall he reap’ and soon, humans may have to pay for the ill-treatment of the environment since time immemorial. Desertification is classified as one of the acute environmental issues which affects environmental, socio-economic and political dimensions.
- Environmental Impacts: Desertification has further given rise to several other bionomical concerns. It has led to the destruction of vegetation, aggravated soil erosion, loss of soil fertility and productivity, increased the likelihood of natural calamities, reduced the land’s capacity to supply ecosystem services and sustain life, land degradation, exacerbated water pollution, depletion of natural resources, loss of biodiversity and extinction of certain species of flora and fauna. Eventually, humans are clueless about the incalculable damages they have caused to themselves.
- Economical Impacts: At the outset, every major problem in a country tends to affect its economy and desertification is no exception. India has witnessed a significant increment in natural disasters like floods, drought, landslides etc. in the past few years. A special report on Drought 2021, released by the UN Office Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) estimated the impact of severe droughts on India’s GDP to be about 2-5% per annum[3]. Also, desertification has threatened agricultural productivity. Resultantly, the share of the agricultural sector in GDP has relatively declined at a higher pace in recent years. The rise in poverty is also a repercussion of desertification which has decreased the overall economic productivity of India.
- Social Impacts: Extreme land degradation has perilous ramifications for the human community such as forced migration and induced displacement, food security issues, malnutrition, disease outbreak, social conflicts and even wars.
- Political Impacts: The migration of substantial dryland population to the urban settlements entails higher demand for employment, food, shelter etc. which ends up erecting political instability in the country.
Desertification in India: Legal and Policy Framework
Environmental issues are one of the biggest challenges for a developing nation like India. Being progressive on the path of development, it is important to strike a balance between the environment and development strategies. Environment protection must be given utmost priority and considerable efforts should be made to address such issues efficiently with a sole motive to achieve sustainable development for India. Although India has put forward its best foot so far, plenty remains to be achieved. The Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India released by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) shows that 30% of the country’s land is degraded[4].
Time and again, the Supreme Court of India has reiterated that the right to a wholesome environment is a basic human right and an intrinsic part of the right to life and personal liberty[5]. Moreover, the 42nd amendment in the Constitution imposed a duty on the state[6] as well as the citizens[7] in the form of the Directive Principle of State Policy and Fundamental Duty respectively to protect and improve the natural environment. Article 253 gives power to the parliament to make any legislation for the implementation of any international treaty, convention or agreement signed by India and the Indian Parliament, showcasing its wisdom, exercised the power envisaged under Art. 253 and enacted the Air (Prevention and Control of Air Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Environment Protection Act,1986 in compliance with the Stockholm Conference, 1972.
The statutory framework for the environment includes the Indian Forests Act, 1927, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Other enactments include the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991, the National Environment Tribunal Act, 1995 and the National Environment Appellate Authority Act, 1997[8]. The Environment Protection Act, 1986 (EPA) is an umbrella legislation for the protection of the natural environment which targets the major issues revolving around the environment. There is no law precisely for desertification but the aforesaid legislations contain provisions dealing with the root causes of desertification. However, the government has undertaken a number of measures to restore the drylands and curb desertification in India by formulating various policies in obedience to the UNCCD as discussed below: –
- The Command Area Development Programme (1974): A centrally sponsored initiative with set objectives to ameliorate the irrigation potential and optimise agricultural productivity through efficient water management. In 2004, it was renamed as ‘Command Area Development and Water Management Programme (CADWM Programme)’ and is regularly restructured to make it more comprehensive. The Ministry of Jal Shakti, Govt. of India oversees the due implementation of this policy.
- Integrated Watershed Management Programme (1989-90): The Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development implements this programme that aims to restore balance in the ecosystem by conserving and developing natural resources such as land, vegetation and water. It furthers objects to open a window of opportunity in rural areas by people’s participation in Wasteland Management Programme.
- Desert Development Programme (1995): The basic object of the programme is to minimise the adverse effect of drought and control desertification through rejuvenation of the natural resource base of the identified desert areas. The programme strives to achieve ecological balance in the long run. The programme also aims at promoting overall economic development and improving the socio-economic conditions of the resource-poor and disadvantaged sections inhabiting the programme areas[9].
- National Afforestation Programme (2000): This is a plantation scheme primarily for degraded forest areas and also encourages the preservation and plantation of native forest species.
- National Action Programme to Combat Desertification (2001): The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change implemented this initiative in the light of UNCCD and the essence of this scheme was to tackle the rising problem of desertification by raising awareness, adopting a better drought management strategy, empowering local communities by way of employment and self-governance and thus, improving the quality of life of localites.
- Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India (2016): On the occasion of World Day to Combat Desertification celebrated on June 17 every year, the Indian Space Agency ISRO’s Space Applications Centre (SAC) released the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas in 2006. It was a joint initiative of ISRO and 19 other partner institutes with an inventory methodology of monitoring desertification across India using the Indian Remote Sensing Satellites (IRS) data in Geographical Information System (GIS) environment.
International efforts to curb Desertification
- United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD): It is a global partnership that aims to promote sustainable land management, prevent land degradation and reverse desertification. Adopted in 1994, it is the exclusive legally binding international agreement to which India is a signatory. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climatic Change (MOEFCC), Government of India is the nodal authority that administers the efficacious implementation of this convention within the territory of India.
- The Bonn Challenge: It is launched by the Government of Germany and IUCN to unite the world for restoration of degraded land areas as well as to impede and reverse desertification. It targets to bring 150 million hectares of degraded and deforested landscapes into restoration by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030. Since its launch in 2011, the Challenge has surpassed the 150-million-hectare milestone for pledges in 2017. Currently, more than 70 pledgers from more than 60 countries are restoring 210 million hectares of degraded and deforested lands.
- Sustainable Development Goal 15: This initiative prospects to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss[10].
- The Great Green Wall Initiative: This trailblazing initiative was launched by African Union in 2007 to restore Africa’s degraded landscapes and transform millions of lives in one of the world’s poorest regions, the Sahel (a belt of semi-arid regions in Africa)[11].
- The Conference of the Parties (COP): It is the apex decision-making body established by the UNCCD. It performs vital functions such as reviewing the reports submitted by the parties on how they are bringing off their commitments, giving recommendations to those reports, amending the Convention and adopting new annexes. The COP meetings take place biennially and till now 14 successful sessions have been organised, the recent one being at New Delhi.
Way Forward
In conclusion, it is high time that every individual in protecting the environment. The effects of desertification are not only limited to the land’s ability to sustain life, but also it evinces egregious ramifications to wildlife and human life. Awareness is the foremost need of the hour. When it comes to environmental issues, policies and laws will be on the fritz if the element of awareness in every human being is lacking. Awareness about the environmental concerns as well as the prospective solutions must be promoted aggressively. Sustainable agricultural practices, an effective drought management system and vegetation conservation should be promoted in the best possible way. Nodal Officers should be appointed at the local levels to keep a check on overgrazing. In addition to this, there is a dire exigency of embodying specific provisions under the environmental laws to curb the problem of desertification and land degradation. Furthermore, stringent provisions for punishment and heavy pecuniary liability must be incorporated to make the wrongdoers pay for the ill-treatment towards mother nature. Ultimately, every human being is duty-bound to protect the environment. Each effort counts.
[1] Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Level of Urbanisation, GOVT. OF INDIA (Sep.10, 2021, 12:05 AM), http://mohua.gov.in/cms/level-of-urbanisation.php.
[2] Invest India, National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency, Agriculture & Forestry, GOVT. OF INDIA (Sep.10, 2021, 12:15 AM), https://www.investindia.gov.in/sector/agriculture-forestry.
[3] Pradeep Thakur, Severe droughts to impact 2-5% of India’s GDP: UN report, THE TIMES OF INDIA (Sep.10, 2021, 12:30 AM), https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/severe-droughts-to-impact-2-5-of-indias-gdp-un-report/articleshow/83644084.cms.
[4] S Vijay Kumar, Restoring India’s degraded land will need policy framework, regulation, FINANCIAL EXPRESS (Sep.10, 2021, 9:26 PM), https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/restoring-indias-degraded-land/1702382/.
[5] INDIA CONST. art. 21.
[6] INDIA CONST. art. 48 A.
[7] INDIA CONST. art. 51 A, cl. g.
[8] WWF-India & National Law University, Delhi, Urban Development and Environment Protection Mechanism, WWF-INDIA (Sep.10. 2021, 9:13 PM), http://awsassets.wwfindia.org/downloads/course_5_block_1_final.pdf.
[9] Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development, Desert Development Program, GOVT. OF INDIA (Sep.10, 2021, 10:02 PM), https://dolr.gov.in/desert-development-programme-ddp.
[10] Department of Economic and Social Affairs, #Envision2030 Goal 15: Life On Land, THE UNITED NATIONS (Sep.10, 2021, 1:37 AM), https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/envision2030-goal15.html.
[11] United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, The Great Green Wall Initiative, THE UNITED NATIONS (Sep.10, 2021, 1.44 AM), https://www.unccd.int/actions/great-green-wall-initiative.
YLCC would like to thank Neha Gururani for her valuable inputs in this article.
