Aravalli Green Wall: India’s Answer to Desertification & Biodiversity Loss

The Aravalli Crisis: Why Restoration Matters
Critical Barrier: Stretching across 4 states, the Aravallis block Thar Desert’s sand from engulfing fertile lands.
Threats: Deforestation, mining, urbanization, and unsustainable agriculture have degraded 30% of India’s land.
Global Context:
40% of the world’s population suffers from land degradation.
Species extinction rates are 100x higher than natural levels (IUCN).
 

India’s Restoration Initiatives: Policies & Progress
Key Legal Frameworks:
Wildlife Protection Act (1972), Forest Conservation Act (1980), CAMPA (2016).
Biological Diversity Act (2002) and Water Pollution Control Act (1974).

Major Programs:
National Afforestation Programme (2000): Targets expanding forest cover (currently 24.62% vs. 33% goal).
Namami Gange & Yamuna Action Plan: Revive critical river ecosystems.
National Action Plan to Combat Desertification (2022): Aims to restore 26 million hectares by 2030.
 
EU’s Nature Restoration Law: A Global Blueprint
Effective since June 2024, this model offers lessons for India:
Binding Targets: Restore 20% of EU’s land/sea by 2030, 100% by 2050.
Pollinator Rescue: Halve decline of bees/butterflies by 2030.
Urban Green Spaces: Zero net loss by 2030; plant 3 billion new trees.
Enforcement: Member states must submit National Restoration Plans by 2026.
 
Global Restoration Efforts: Treaties & Targets
Kunming-Montreal Framework (2022): Restore 30% of degraded ecosystems globally by 2030.
UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030): Coordinates worldwide action.
Key Conventions: Ramsar (wetlands), CITES (species trade), UNCCD (desertification).
 

The Road Ahead for India
Urgent Needs:
National Restoration Framework: Unify fragmented policies under binding targets.
Community-Led Action: Empower local stakeholders in conservation.
Biocentric Approach: Recognize nature’s intrinsic value—not just human utility.
“Restoration must shift from conservation to active regeneration.”

Competitive Exam Q&As
Q1: What percentage of India’s land is degraded, and what national plan addresses it?
A: 30% degraded; National Action Plan to Combat Desertification (2022) aims to restore 26M hectares by 2030.
Q2: Name one key target of the European Union’s Nature Restoration Law (2024).
A: Reverse pollinator decline by 50% before 2030.
Q3: Which global framework sets a 30% ecosystem restoration target by 2030?
A: Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (COP15, 2022).
Q4: Identify two laws protecting India’s forests.
A: Forest Conservation Act (1980) and CAMPA (2016).
Q5: What is the core philosophy of “biocentrism”?
A: Prioritizing nature’s intrinsic value over human-centric utility.