The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2025 was celebrated on June 17, 2025, with a significant national workshop hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) at the Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI) in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The theme “Strategies for Combating Desertification and Drought” addressed sustainable land management in arid and semi-arid parts of India, with a particular focus on the Aravalli Mountain range’s ecological significance. India strengthens desertification combat efforts, combating land degradation, a serious issue made worse by unsustainable farming methods and climate change. Innovative projects to restore ecological balance, encourage cooperation, and build resilience in endangered ecosystems nationwide were highlighted at the event.
Initiatives and Leadership in Focus
As the chief guest, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav emphasized India’s aggressive approach to combating desertification. He blasted unsustainable farming methods and the overuse of pesticides and fertilizers for endangering biodiversity, food security, and land health. Through Amrit Sarovar, the Matri Van campaign, which encourages planting trees in the Aravalli region to honor mothers, and the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam movement, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi started to celebrate “Mother Earth,” Yadav highlighted the revitalization of water bodies. The 700-km Aravalli range, which spans 29 districts, was praised for protecting areas from the Thar Desert while maintaining its ecological and cultural legacy. Yadav promoted community-led restoration and voiced hope for a green economy that combines economic expansion with ecological sustainability by 2047.
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Collaborative Efforts and Resource Releases
In light of worldwide forest cover reductions, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who represents Tourism and Culture, commended India’s increase in forest cover and gave the Aravallis credit for biodiversity, groundwater recharging, and water conservation. Recognizing the conservation efforts of local communities, he called for a sense of shared responsibility to preserve this legacy for future generations. Necessary materials were released during the workshop, including the National Afforestation Monitoring System (NAMS), a Sustainable Land Management (SLM) book, the updated Green India Mission paper, and a brochure for the Aravalli districts. Yadav also gave ten farmers AFRI Shesham clones as a sign of grassroots engagement. As India strengthens desertification combat efforts, Inter-state cooperation was encouraged via technical seminars that included information on SLM, worldwide case studies from the World Bank, ADB, and UNDP, and the Aravalli Green Wall Project. Multi-stakeholder initiatives involving state governments, non-governmental organizations, and organizations such as SAC and CAZRI were highlighted in Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) discussions.
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