Amidst the cacophony of shrieking news channels about crime, lynching, scams, elections and related abuses by leaders there came a soothing piece of news in print. The news is encouraging for all the environment lovers who want it safe, viable and clean. As per unconfirmed news, the government is mooting to create a 'Green Wall' to increase the green cover and curb desertification. Keeping the magnitude of the problem, it is a welcome step and deserves to be appreciated.
The desertification is a problem, for it extends its arms and insidiously engulf the tillable land. It is because of the degraded land which is on the rise in India. ISRO, in it's 'Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India' released in 2016, has pointed out an increase in the land degradation of 1.87 Mha (0.56%). The atlas says that between 2011 and 13 out of the total 328.72 million hectares (Mha) geographical area of the country, 96.40 Mha (29.32%) is under land degradation whereas it was 93.53 Mha (28.76%) in 2003 to 05. It may sound insignificant but it is certainly consternating and needs urgent attention. The worst affected areas are the states of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana. In some wherein, more than 50% of the total area is degraded facing the threat of desertification.
The waning of topsoil and decreasing its thickness merely to a few inches causes the land degraded, making it unsustainable for life because of its low water-absorbing/retaining capacity and nutrients. The loosened topsoil gets easily washed off either by wind current or rain, leaving the land barren. The degraded land thus loses its ability to trap carbon dioxide - the 'Green House Gas' - primarily responsible for the rise of environmental temperature. The adverse effects of global warming need no elaboration. It is a vicious cycle.
Denudation is the major cause of land degradation. The depleting forest cover, haphazard land use, excessive grazing et cetera are responsible factors contributing to denudation. The extreme weather conditions also add significantly to the process of degradation of forests and then of the land. The extreme weather conditions like perennial floods, droughts and rising temperature are near defenestrating the economy besides adversely affecting the biodiversity of the county. The fact that several vital flora and fauna are either on the brink of extinction or have already been extinct is a cause of consternation. The fast-changing scenario is a devastating shock for bio-clock. The earth may witness 'Holocene Extention' lest it is not addressed.
Forests are not a mere conglomerate of trees and twiners on a patch of land. They are vibrant entities which sustain life-forms by establishing a complex food web. It takes years to grow a forest. Each component of the ecosystem is interdependent. It is why forests and related fauna have been treated with the utmost reverence since ancient times in Indian society. It is not strange why they have been given the place of God and worshipped by the people. Our ancient holy scriptures copiously praise them and underline their importance. An urge to save the forest is neither rhetoric nor emotional. It is the necessity of time, even in terms of a materialistic angle as well. The forests cannot be equated with plantation wherein planting of trees is taken up systematically and artificially. Such plantations, though increase the green cover, do not instantly fill the void of forests. Done with bonafide intention, however, planting new saplings and their care is the right step in the right direction.
The adverse effects of desertification and degradation attracted the world's attention. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was established in 1994. Conference of Parties (COP) with 197 member countries was made supreme decision-making body of UNCCD. The decisions of COP are legally binding on the member countries. The 14th summit - COP14 - was held in New Delhi. In the summit, ended on 13-September-2019, participating countries adopted 'Delhi Declaration' wherein they expressed their commitment, besides other things, for the restoration of ecosystem and also recovering 26 Mha of degraded land in India. Raising the concern while addressing the summit, Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi said that climate change was leading to land degradation of various kinds.
As has been pointed out above, one of the most crucial areas Rajasthan needs prior attention. The daunting task to check the progress of the desert towards the east can be achieved by creating wind barriers in the form of a thick plantation. The green cover is to be restored and created including the degraded Arawali region. An idea to develop a 'Green Wall' is the replication of 'The Great Green Wall' of Africa which was mooted a decade ago. Though in Africa it was not fulfilled completely because of the involvement of many countries, in India the 'Green Wall' would probably be 1400 Km long and 05 Km wide, stretching from Porbandar to Panipat covering entire Arawali range and beyond. Completed, it will be able to check the spread of the desert beside being able to effectively contain the land degradation and its restoration.
The forests and wildlife is a concurrent subject in the Constitution of India. Though the decisions of the Center has an overriding effect on the State's decision, their involvement is natural. Keeping harmony and larger national interest in mind the work of 'Green Wall' is to be taken up. Ours is a vast country, home to 18% of the world's population. There is a need for infrastructure development, agriculture, housing, sanitation, education and health. This creates a lot of pressure on our valuable forests. Additionally, illicit felling is a sore. An estimated 1.6 Mha of forest cover has been cleared during the last 18 years. The forested area has increased albeit marginally. It is, however, equally important to have a clean and healthy environment as well.
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