India’s Land Restoration Drive Records Major Progress Under Bonn Challenge

Context

India has restored 21.7 million hectares of degraded and deforested land between 2011 and 2020, according to the country’s second progress report submitted under the global Bonn Challenge framework. The achievement highlights India’s growing commitment to ecosystem restoration, climate action, and sustainable land management.

Bonn Challenge: Global Mission for Ecosystem Recovery

Overview

The Bonn Challenge is an international restoration initiative launched in 2011 by the Government of Germany and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to reverse land degradation and forest loss across the world.

Primary Targets

Restore 150 million hectares of degraded landscapes by 2020.
Expand restoration efforts to 350 million hectares by 2030.

Core Areas of Action

Reforestation and afforestation
Natural forest regeneration
Agroforestry development
Mangrove ecosystem restoration
Carbon capture and storage
Sustainable livelihood enhancement

Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) Approach

The Bonn Challenge is based on the concept of Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR), jointly promoted by IUCN and WWF in 2000.

Key principles include:

Restoring ecological functions of landscapes
Conserving biodiversity
Supporting local communities and livelihoods
Promoting sustainable land-use practices

Connection with International Environmental Goals

The initiative contributes directly to:

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Targets
Paris Climate Agreement
UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

India’s Second Bonn Challenge Progress Assessment

Report Publication

The report was jointly prepared by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and IUCN, using data from State Forest Departments and the Department of Land Resources.

India’s Restoration Commitment

Initial pledge: 13 million hectares
Revised target: 26 million hectares by 2030
Enhanced commitment announced during UNCCD COP-14 (2019).

Restoration Achievements

2011–2017: 9.8 million hectares restored.
2011–2020: 21.7 million hectares restored.

Major Drivers Behind Success

The progress has been supported by:

Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF)
Green India Mission (GIM)
National Afforestation Programme
MGNREGS
State-level plantation and restoration initiatives

Key Findings of the Report

Leading States in Restoration Efforts

Telangana emerged as the top performer with 4.18 million hectares restored.
Agroforestry accounted for nearly 3.6 million hectares of Telangana’s achievement.
Other leading contributors:
- Madhya Pradesh
- Odisha
- Gujarat
- Andhra Pradesh

Employment Creation

Land restoration activities generated approximately 1,224.51 million person-days of employment, providing significant support to rural livelihoods.

Carbon Sequestration Benefits

Restoration efforts sequestered approximately 461.14 million tonnes of carbon.
After accounting for plantation mortality, effective sequestration stood at 343.66 million tonnes.

Extent of Land Degradation

Nearly 97.85 million hectares (29.77% of India’s geographical area) remain affected by land degradation and desertification.
Around 1.45 million hectares experienced additional degradation between 2011-13 and 2018-19.

Major Causes of Degradation

Habitat destruction
Unsustainable resource extraction
Invasive alien species
Climate change impacts
Desertification
Pollution

Government Initiatives Supporting Land Restoration

Green India Mission (GIM)

Launched in 2014 under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).

Objectives:

Expand forest and tree cover
Restore degraded ecosystems
Strengthen climate resilience
Improve livelihoods of forest-dependent communities

Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam Campaign

A nationwide plantation movement encouraging citizens to plant trees in honour of their mothers while promoting environmental conservation.

Aravalli Green Wall Programme

Introduced in 2025 to:

Combat desertification
Restore degraded ecosystems across four states
Develop a 5-km green buffer zone around the Aravalli range covering approximately 6.45 million hectares

Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) Act, 2016

Mandates compensation for diversion of forest land for development projects.

Recent Achievement:

Afforestation activities conducted over nearly 3.20 lakh hectares through CAMPA-supported projects during the last five years.

Watershed Development Component of PMKSY

Focuses on:

Soil conservation
Rainwater harvesting
Groundwater recharge
Vegetation regeneration
Prevention of soil erosion

Importance of the Bonn Challenge for India

Strengthening Rural Livelihoods

Large-scale restoration activities have created over 1.22 billion person-days of employment, generating income opportunities in rural areas.

Addressing Land Degradation

With nearly 30% of India’s land area affected, restoration efforts are crucial for:

Agricultural productivity
Water security
Livestock sustainability
Ecological stability

Climate Change Mitigation

Enhanced forest cover and ecosystem restoration improve carbon sequestration and support India’s climate commitments.

Enhancing Global Environmental Leadership

Participation reinforces India’s contribution to:

Paris Agreement goals
Sustainable Development Goals
UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
Global biodiversity conservation efforts

Conclusion

India’s restoration of 21.7 million hectares of degraded land demonstrates substantial progress toward achieving its Bonn Challenge commitments. Through integrated afforestation programmes, watershed management, agroforestry expansion, and community participation, the country is advancing environmental sustainability while generating livelihoods and strengthening climate resilience. Continued efforts will be crucial to achieving the ambitious target of restoring 26 million hectares by 2030.

Source : The Indian Express