Why this matters now
UNCCD is tested for: 3 Rio Conventions (UNCCD + UNFCCC + CBD); adoption Paris 17 June 1994; 17 June = World Day to Combat Desertification; in force 26 Dec 1996; Bonn Challenge 2011 (150 mha by 2020, 350 mha by 2030 land restoration target); Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) target by 2030 — SDG 15.3; UNCCD COP14 New Delhi 2-13 Sept 2019 (PM Modi addressed); India’s pledge to restore 26 million hectares (5 million ha National Mission for Green India 2008 + LDN target 26 mha by 2030); Great Green Wall of Africa initiative; Aravalli Green Wall project 2023.
Background
- 1977 UN Conference on Desertification (UNCOD) Nairobi.
- 1992 Rio Earth Summit (UNCED) Agenda 21 called for UNCCD negotiation.
- 1992-94: Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee.
- 17 June 1994: Adopted at Paris.
- 26 December 1996: Entered into force.
- One of the 3 Rio Conventions (with UNFCCC + CBD).
- UNCCD Secretariat at Bonn, Germany since 1999.
Objectives + Approach
Main objective: combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought in countries experiencing serious drought + desertification, particularly in Africa.
Definitions (Article 1):
- Desertification: land degradation in arid + semi-arid + dry sub-humid areas from climatic variations + human activities.
- Land degradation: reduction or loss of biological + economic productivity of dryland environments.
- Drought: naturally-occurring phenomenon when precipitation has been significantly below normal recorded levels.
Differs from UNFCCC + CBD in approach: grassroots + bottom-up + community + participation-focused. National Action Programmes (NAPs) required of affected countries.
5 Regional Implementation Annexes: Africa, Asia, Latin America + Caribbean, Northern Mediterranean, Central + Eastern Europe.
India @ UNCCD
India ratified UNCCD on 17 December 1996. MoEFCC + Ministry of Rural Development + Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare joint nodal.
India statistics (ISRO Desertification + Land Degradation Atlas 2021):
- 30% of India’s land (~97 million ha) is degraded.
- Rajasthan + Gujarat + Maharashtra + Jharkhand + Odisha + AP — major degraded states.
- Common processes: vegetation degradation, wind erosion, water erosion, salinity, waterlogging.
India @ UNCCD COP14 (2-13 Sept 2019 New Delhi):
- PM Modi addressed; promised India would restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.
- Adopted Delhi Declaration.
- Launched Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management at Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun.
India initiatives:
- National Action Programme (NAP) to Combat Desertification 2001.
- National Mission for Green India 2008 (under NAPCC) — 10 million ha afforestation.
- Integrated Watershed Management Programme.
- Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) — Per Drop More Crop.
- Soil Health Card Scheme 2015.
- Aravalli Green Wall Project 2023 — 1,400 km from Gujarat to Delhi.
- Mission LiFE launch 2022.
- Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAMPA) 2016 — Rs 66,000 crore corpus.
UPSC angle
Know UNCCD — UN Convention to Combat Desertification adopted 17 JUNE 1994 PARIS, IN FORCE 26 DEC 1996; 197 PARTIES; INDIA ratified 17 DECEMBER 1996; ONE OF 3 RIO CONVENTIONS (UNCCD+UNFCCC+CBD); SECRETARIAT BONN GERMANY since 1999; 17 JUNE WORLD DAY TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION; ONLY LEGALLY-BINDING instrument linking environment+development to sustainable land mgmt; HISTORY: 1977 UN Conference on Desertification UNCOD Nairobi, 1992 Rio Agenda 21 called for UNCCD, 1992-94 INC; OBJECTIVES: combat desertification+drought esp AFRICA; DEFINITIONS Art 1: DESERTIFICATION land degradation arid+semi-arid+dry sub-humid from climatic+human; land degradation reduction biological+economic productivity drylands; drought precipitation below normal; APPROACH grassroots+bottom-up+community+participation; National Action Programmes (NAPs); 5 REGIONAL ANNEXES Africa+Asia+LAC+N Mediterranean+C&E Europe; BONN CHALLENGE 2011 RESTORE 150 mha by 2020 + 350 MHA BY 2030; LAND DEGRADATION NEUTRALITY (LDN) TARGET 2030 SDG 15.3; INDIA UNCCD COP14 NEW DELHI 2-13 SEPT 2019 PM MODI addressed, restored 26 MILLION HECTARES BY 2030 pledge, DELHI DECLARATION, Centre of Excellence Sustainable Land Management ICFRE Dehradun; ISRO DESERTIFICATION+LAND DEGRADATION ATLAS 2021: 30% India land ~97 million ha degraded, major Rajasthan+Gujarat+Maharashtra+Jharkhand+Odisha+AP; INDIA INITIATIVES: NAP 2001 + NATIONAL MISSION FOR GREEN INDIA 2008 (NAPCC 10 million ha afforestation) + Integrated Watershed Management + PMKSY Per Drop More Crop + Soil Health Card 2015 + ARAVALLI GREEN WALL PROJECT 2023 (1400 km Gujarat-Delhi) + Mission LiFE 2022 + CAMPA Compensatory Afforestation Fund 2016 Rs 66000 crore corpus; great green wall AFRICA also addressed.
Frequently asked questions
When was UNCCD adopted?
17 June 1994 at Paris. Entered into force 26 December 1996. 17 June is observed as World Day to Combat Desertification.
What are the 3 Rio Conventions?
UNCCD (desertification, 1994), UNFCCC (climate change, 1992), CBD (biological diversity, 1992) — all stemming from the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.
What is Land Degradation Neutrality?
SDG 15.3 target — achieve a state of no further net loss of healthy + productive land by 2030. India pledged at COP14 Delhi 2019 to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.
When did India host UNCCD COP?
2-13 September 2019 at New Delhi. PM Modi addressed; Delhi Declaration adopted; Centre of Excellence at ICFRE Dehradun launched.