NEW DELHI: India has succeeded in bringing 21.7 million hectares of degraded land under restoration against its target of restoring 26 million hectares by 2030 as per its voluntary global commitment, shows the country’s second progress report on the Bonn Challenge released on the world day to combat desertification and drought on Wednesday.Among states, Telangana restored the maximum (4.2 million hectares) degraded area followed by Madhya Pradesh (3.8 million ha), Odisha (2.6 million ha), Gujarat (1.7 million ha) and Andhra Pradesh (1.6 million ha).The Bonn Challenge is a voluntary global restoration pledge launched in 2011, urging nations to restore 350 million hectares of degraded ecosystems by 2030 as part of a larger goal to achieve ‘land degradation neutrality’.According to the India Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas, 97.8 million ha of land, or nearly 29.8% of the country’s geographical area, are affected by land degradation and desertification. Around 82% of India’s degraded land falls in nine states/UT – Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana.Releasing the country’s progress report, Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav said that India’s approach demonstrates that the convergence of policy commitment, scientific innovation and public participation can make environmental restoration an effective pathway towards sustainable development.India has been restoring its degraded land through afforestation, water resource management, sustainable farming practices, agroforestry, mangrove restoration and natural regeneration of formerly forested land.Yadav said the ‘Aravalli Green Wall’ initiative has emerged as an important landscape-level restoration programme and has surpassed its annual targets during the financial year 2025-26.The initiative aims to spread green cover in the 5 km buffer area around the Aravalli Hill Range in 29 districts of four states/UT, including Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Gujarat.The minister said India’s priorities include landscape-level restoration, drought resilience, science-based monitoring, community participation, nature-based solutions and innovative financing mechanisms for restoration.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorVishwa MohanVishwa Mohan is Senior Editor at The Times of India. He writes on environment, climate change, agriculture, water resources and clean energy, tracking policy issues and climate diplomacy. He has been covering Parliament since 2003 to see how politics shaped up domestic policy and India’s position at global platform. Before switching over to explore sustainable development issues, Vishwa had covered internal security and investigative agencies for more than a decade.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’It’s A Rough…’: Trump Reacts To Indian Seafarers’ Deaths As PM Modi Raises ConcernsAfter BJP Exit, Annamalai Eyes New Political Party With Growing Membership Base’We Are Prepared’: Akhilesh Yadav Rejects Split Buzz, Accuses BJP of Engineering Defections | WatchRevolt-Hit TMC Asked to Vacate Kolkata Headquarters Amid Lease DisputeIndia Blocks Telegram Ahead Of NEET Re-Exam, But It Remains Operational On VPNAs NEET Re-Exam Nears, Two Young Aspirants Die By Suicide In Delhi And DehradunUS Map Shows PoJK As Pakistan’s Part, Drops ‘Indo’ From Pacific Command Name’Common In Marathi Language’: Sanjay Raut Defends Abusive Language Against Rebel MPs | Watch“Attack on Mandate”: BJP Slams Mamata Banerjee’s Court Plea Amid Electoral ControversyRJD Workers Take Guard Duty After Security Downgrade for Lalu Yadav and Rabri Yadav123PhotostoriesRupali Ganguly’s rise to fame: From a filmmaker’s daughter to Indian television’s leading ladyHow to recognize manipulation: 5 life skills parents must teach children6 fun, cute and unique souvenirs you must bring home from JapanYou may not notice these health problems after 40 until it’s too late: The essential tests every man needsTop 10 safest countries in the world in 2026; what travellers should know5 signs of narcissism – And 3 ways on how to deal with a narcissist, reveals pyschologist Dr Ramani DurvasulaPrincess Diana’s timeless beauty secrets that are still relevant today10 beautiful baby girl names inspired by spring flowers6 honest truths about marriage that a woman learns over timeInside Aly Goni and Jasmin Bhasin’s stunning 6 BHK home: Two walk-in closets, a massive living room, and more123Hot PicksLionel Messi WifeVaibhav SooryavanshiDehradun NEET Aspirant DieFIFA World Cup Free Live Streamingilia topuriaIND vs AFG ScorecardUGC NET admit cardNHL TradeTyson Fury vs Anthony JoshuaTop TrendingSairaj BahutaleFrance vs Senegal Live ScoreKarley SwindelFIFA World Cup 2026Jewar Noida International AirportHormuz BlockadeSpaceXCBSE 10th Second Board Result 2026Eknath ShindeAustria vs Jordan Match Result
NEW DELHI: India has succeeded in bringing 21.7 million hectares of degraded land under restoration against its target of restoring 26 million hectares by 2030 as per its voluntary global commitment, shows the country’s second progress report on the Bonn Challenge released on the world day to combat desertification and drought on Wednesday.Among states, Telangana restored the maximum (4.2 million hectares) degraded area followed by Madhya Pradesh (3.8 million ha), Odisha (2.6 million ha), Gujarat (1.7 million ha) and Andhra Pradesh (1.6 million ha).The Bonn Challenge is a voluntary global restoration pledge launched in 2011, urging nations to restore 350 million hectares of degraded ecosystems by 2030 as part of a larger goal to achieve ‘land degradation neutrality’.According to the India Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas, 97.8 million ha of land, or nearly 29.8% of the country’s geographical area, are affected by land degradation and desertification. Around 82% of India’s degraded land falls in nine states/UT – Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana.Releasing the country’s progress report, Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav said that India’s approach demonstrates that the convergence of policy commitment, scientific innovation and public participation can make environmental restoration an effective pathway towards sustainable development.India has been restoring its degraded land through afforestation, water resource management, sustainable farming practices, agroforestry, mangrove restoration and natural regeneration of formerly forested land.Yadav said the ‘Aravalli Green Wall’ initiative has emerged as an important landscape-level restoration programme and has surpassed its annual targets during the financial year 2025-26.The initiative aims to spread green cover in the 5 km buffer area around the Aravalli Hill Range in 29 districts of four states/UT, including Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Gujarat.The minister said India’s priorities include landscape-level restoration, drought resilience, science-based monitoring, community participation, nature-based solutions and innovative financing mechanisms for restoration.
