India claims to restore 26 million hectares of land by 2030 at the UN Desertification Summit

At the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) held in Riyadh, India committed to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. This is reported by News9, a partner of TV BRICS.

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav highlighted the initiative as a cornerstone of India’s approach to tackling land degradation, ensuring food security, and addressing climate challenges through innovative land management strategies.

India also aligned itself with the G20’s commitment to plant one trillion trees by 2030 as part of global efforts to create carbon sinks. Yadav further shared how India’s proactive drought strategy utilises satellite technology for precise drought vulnerability assessments, enabling more effective policy implementation.

Saudi Arabia launched the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership in collaboration with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), aiming to develop robust strategies for combating drought.

As COP16 coincided with the 30th anniversary of the UNCCD, it became the largest UN land conference to date and the first in the Middle East and North Africa region. Delegates gathered to forge collective actions to accelerate land restoration, enhance drought resilience, improve soil health, and promote equitable land use.

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