Executive Summary:
This document presents the Indian government's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1350 regarding commitments to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). It details programs implemented in Rajasthan to combat land degradation and desertification, plans for wildlife corridor development, and compensatory afforestation activities, including CAMPA fund utilization in the Rajsamand district over the last five years. The response includes data up to March 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
Combating Desertification and Land Degradation Initiatives:
* India employs a multi-pronged strategy involving monitoring, research, policy interventions, and community participation.
* The Space Applications Centre (SAC) provides state-wise data on land degradation through the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India and an online portal.
* A Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Land Management has been established at ICFRE Dehradun.
* Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI) Jodhpur conducts forestry research in arid zones.
* Afforestation schemes like Green India Mission (GIM), Nagar Van Yojana (NVY), School Nursery Yojana (SNY), Eco Development Forces (EDF), National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC), and Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) are utilized.
* Rajasthan is implementing the Climate Change and Combating Desertification (CCCD) program.
* The Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign launched on June 5, 2024, aims to increase green cover. Rajasthan planted 7.27 crore saplings by March 2025 under this campaign.
Wildlife Conservation:
* The proposal for the creation of the Kumbhalgarh Tiger Reserve has been given in-principle approval.
Compensatory Afforestation (Rajsamand District):
* Details of compensatory afforestation activities and CAMPA fund utilization in Rajsamand district over the last five years are provided, including areas of afforestation and funds utilized.
District-wise Plantation Details:
* Annexure 1 provides district-wise details of plantation activities under various schemes in Rajasthan for the last five years, including the Climate Change and Combating Desertification program, EcoTask Force, and National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC).
Impact Analysis:
State Government of Rajasthan:
* Impact: Responsible for implementing the Climate Change and Combating Desertification (CCCD) program and participating in the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign.
* Action Required: Continue implementing and monitoring the CCCD program and afforestation efforts.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change:
* Impact: Oversees and supports various initiatives to combat land degradation and desertification.
* Action Required: Continue supporting and monitoring the implementation of afforestation schemes, research, and the development of wildlife corridors.
ICFRE Dehradun and AFRI Jodhpur:
* Impact: Key institutions for research and promotion of sustainable land management practices.
* Action Required: Continue research efforts and capacity building programs.
SAC (Space Applications Centre):
* Impact: Provides data and tools for planning and implementing land degradation mitigation measures.
* Action Required: Maintain and update the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India and the online portal.
Local Communities:
* Impact: Participation in afforestation and conservation efforts can improve local environments and livelihoods.
* Action Required: Engage in tree planting initiatives and support sustainable land management practices.
Key Entities Referenced
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification UNCCD: An international agreement to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought.
Rajasthan: A state in India where programs to combat land degradation and desertification are being implemented.
Kumbhalgarh and TodgarhRaoli Wildlife Sanctuaries: Wildlife sanctuaries located in Rajsamand district, Rajasthan, where the government plans to develop or conserve wildlife corridors.
Rajsamand district: A district in Rajasthan where compensatory afforestation activities are being conducted and CAMPA funds are being utilized.
Green India Mission GIM: An afforestation scheme/program launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to address land degradation and desertification.
Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority CAMPA: An authority that manages funds utilized for control of desertification through afforestation, water conservation, and management.
ICFRE Dehradun: Location of the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Land Management which promotes land degradation neutrality
Arid Forest Research Institute AFRI Jodhpur: An ICFRE institute that conducts forestry research to enhance vegetation and biodiversity in arid zones.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1350
TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
Commitments to UNCCD
1350. SMT. MAHIMA KUMARI MEWAR:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government has implemented any programmes in Rajasthan to combat
land degradation and desertification under it's commitments to the United Nations
Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and related national action plans;
(b) if so, the status and outcomes of such initiatives, district-wise;
(c) whether the Government has any plans to develop or conserve wildlife corridors in
areas such as Kumbhalgarh and Todgarh-Raoli Wildlife Sanctuaries, located in
Rajsamand district; and
(d) the details of compensatory afforestation activities and utilisation of CAMPA fund in
Rajsamand district during the last five years?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) & (b) Combatting desertification and land degradation is a dynamic process
requiring, adaptive strategies, coordinated stakeholder engagement and
continuous monitoring. India adopts a multi-pronged strategy to ensure
sustainability in desert regions and combat land degradation through
monitoring, research, policy interventions, and community participation. Some
of the key initiatives taken to combat land degradation and desertification
include the publication of the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of
India by the Space Applications Centre (SAC), which provides state-wise data
on land degradation, aiding planning and implementation, and an online portal
developed by SAC which links degraded areas with causative processes helping
in better planning and mitigation measures. A Centre of Excellence for
Sustainable Land Management has been set up at ICFRE Dehradun which
promotes land degradation neutrality, facilitates South-South cooperation,
shares India's cost-effective land management practices, and supports capacity
building while the ICFRE Institute, Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI)
Jodhpur conducts forestry research to enhance vegetation and biodiversity in
arid zones.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has launched a
number of afforestation schemes/programmes which also address the problem
of land degradation and desertification, namely the Green India Mission (GIM),Nagar Van Yojana (NVY), School Nursery Yojana (SNY), the Eco-
Development Forces (EDF) scheme, the National Adaptation Fund for Climate
Change (NAFCC) and funds under the Compensatory Afforestation Fund
Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) which are utilized for control
of desertification through afforestation, water conservation and management in
arid areas including Rajasthan. The State Government of Rajasthan is also
implementing Climate Change and Combating Desertification (CC&CD)
programme for combating land degradation and desertification. The details of
these initiatives are given at Annexure - 1.
Further, the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign was launched on 5th June, 2024
with the objectives of halting and reversing land degradation, build drought
resilience, prevent desertification and increase the green cover of the country
through voluntary planting of trees on a “Whole of Government” and “Whole
of Society” approach, and the State of Rajasthan has planted 7.27 crore trees
saplings till end of March, 2025 under this campaign.
(c) The proposal for creation of Kumbhalgarh Tiger Reserve has been accorded
‘in-principle’ approval by the Ministry. The creation of a tiger reserve brings
conservation and protection of wildlife corridors in focus.
(d) The details of the compensatory afforestation activities and utilisation of
CAMPA fund in Rajsamand district during the last five years is given at
Annexure 2.
***Annexure-1
Annexure referred to in reply of part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1350
regarding ‘Commitments to UNCCD’ raised by Smt Mahima Kumari Mewar due for reply
on 28.07.2025.
District wise details of plantation activities under various schemes in Rajasthan in last five
years:
Name of the Scheme/Programme: Climate Change and Combating Desertification
Total
S. No. District/ Year (Area in
2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 Ha)
1 Ajmer 250 25 100 250 625
2 Barmer 250 150 625 1650 800 3475
3 Bikaner 600 330 1605 2600 3100 8235
4 Churu 200 200 224 160 250 1034
5 Ganganagar 200 120 935 1950 2400 5605
6 Hanumangarh 200 130 720 2000 700 3750
7 Jaisalmer 875 610 2296 3600 5245 12626
8 Jalore - - - 300 150 450
9 Jhunjhunu 400 440 950 300 850 2940
10 Jodhpur 75 70 270 600 1175 2190
11 Nagaur 350 425 1005 1290 1655 4725
12 Sikar 700 400 1370 900 900 4270
Total 4100 2900 10000 15450 17475 49925
Name of the Scheme/Programme: Eco-Task Force
Total
S. No. District/ Year (Area in
2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 Ha)
1 Jaisalmer 600 600 600 600 600 3000
Total 600 600 600 600 600 3000
Name of the Scheme/Programme: National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC)
Total
District/
S. No. (Area in
Year
2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 Ha)
1 Barmer - - 550 650 - 1200
Total - - 550 650 - 1200
***Annexure-2
Annexure referred to in reply of part (d) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1350
regarding ‘Commitments to UNCCD’ raised by Smt Mahima Kumari Mewar due for
reply on 28.07.2025
Details of compensatory afforestation activities and utilization of CAMPA fund in
Rajsamand district during the last five years:
S. No. Year Compensatory Afforestation Activity Area Utilization
(in Ha.) (In Lakh)
Compensatory Afforestation- Non Forest 29.54 1.42
land (CA-NFL) maintenance
1 2020-21 Compensatory Afforestation- Degraded 70.62 2.23
Forest land (CA DFL) maintenance
Total 3.65
Compensatory Afforestation- Non Forest 29.54 1.49
land (CA-NFL) maintenance
2 2021-22 Compensatory Afforestation- Degraded 70.62 2.34
Forest land (CA DFL) maintenance
Total 3.83
Transmission Line Medicinal Plants 19.12 9.76
Advance Action
3 2022-23 Compensatory Afforestation- Non Forest 3.94 2.52
land (CA NFL) Plantation
CA NFL maintenance 29.54 1.67
CA NFL maintenance 70.62 4.26
Total 18.21
Transmission Line maintenance 19.12 42.32
4 2023-24
CA NFL maintenance 33.48 2.46
CA DFL maintenance 70.62 4.37
Total 49.15
Transmission Line maintenance 19.12 19.47
CA NFL maintenance 33.48 1.94
Compensatory Afforestation- Degraded 497.714 91.83
5 2024-25
Forest land (CA DFL) Advance Action
CA DFL maintenance 70.62 4.24
100 Tree Planting 100 Tree 0.58
Total 118.06
Grand Total 192.90
***