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DIGITAL WORLD
BRICS+ Media Centre 
MODERN RUSSIAN 
17.06.2617:00 
15.06.2612:00 
India restores over 21 million hectares of degraded land in push towards 2030 target
Large-scale restoration programmes strengthen ecosystems, support rural livelihoods and advance national environmental goals
India has restored 21.76 million hectares of degraded and deforested land as part of its commitment under the Bonn Challenge initiative, bringing the country closer to its target of restoring 26 million hectares by 2030, as reported by News9, a TV BRICS partner.
The progress was highlighted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in cooperation with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The report was released on the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.
The restoration effort spans forests, watersheds, grasslands, wetlands, mangrove ecosystems and agricultural landscapes across the country. Authorities emphasise that healthy ecosystems are essential for ensuring long-term food security, climate resilience and sustainable economic development.
Government programmes have contributed to significant progress in landscape restoration. Watershed management initiatives have improved more than 27 million hectares of land, while millions of natural resource management assets have been created to strengthen soil conservation, water retention and ecosystem resilience.
Forest and ecosystem restoration projects have also expanded through afforestation and greening initiatives, contributing to the recovery of degraded landscapes and enhancing carbon sequestration capacity. Particular attention has been given to dryland regions, which play a critical role in supporting agricultural production, livestock farming and rural communities.
This year’s international focus on rangelands has further highlighted the importance of grassland restoration. These ecosystems provide essential environmental services, including biodiversity conservation, carbon storage and water regulation, while supporting the livelihoods of millions of people.
India has also expanded programmes promoting agroforestry, bamboo cultivation and mangrove restoration. Under ongoing conservation initiatives, thousands of hectares of coastal ecosystems are being restored to strengthen climate resilience and protect biodiversity.
With more than 21 million hectares already restored, India remains among the leading countries advancing large-scale ecosystem restoration and land recovery efforts.
Many countries around the world are actively developing joint environmental projects aimed at combating land degradation and maintaining resilience in the face of climate challenges.
This year has been declared by the UN General Assembly as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists and is intended to draw attention to the growing risks facing steppe, desert and arid ecosystems. The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has launched the "Silk Road Caravan" – a project that will be implemented across a vast territory stretching from Türkiye to Mongolia, according to the organisation’s website. The expedition will take place from May to August, during which experts will meet with local communities to document methods of sustainable land use and land restoration based on both traditional knowledge and modern scientific approaches. Analysts estimate that the project could help launch joint scientific programmes, develop cross-border environmental monitoring and attract investment in land restoration technologies.
Last summer, China and the Central Asian countries established a joint centre to combat desertification, and it has already begun yielding results. Six demonstration centres with a practical focus have been opened there, where work is being carried out to breed plant varieties adapted to sandy soil conditions and to develop methods for restoring sandy and arid lands. International seminars are being held, and specialists are being trained (170 people have already been trained), while projects have been developed for Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, which will be implemented by the end of this year. Furthermore, the countries are exchanging technologies and signing cooperation agreements to jointly tackle common challenges such as drought, water scarcity and soil degradation, reports Xinhua News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS.
In Kazakhstan, there are plans to create a system of protective forest strips and barrier plantations to prevent land degradation and desertification. These belts consist of specially planted trees and shrubs that will protect the soil from erosion by wind and water, help retain moisture, improve the condition of agricultural land and reduce the risk of areas turning into desert. As noted by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the work is being carried out as part of the country’s long-term environmental policy and will continue alongside the programme to plant 2 billion trees, as such measures are particularly important against the backdrop of climate change and increasing pressure on natural ecosystems, reports Kazinform, a partner of TV BRICS.
09.06.2612:10 
30 minutes 39 sec.