On the occasion of 2021 Desertification and Drought Day, latest version of Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India has been released by the Government.
2021 Desertification and Drought Day:
The 2021 Desertification and Drought Day were observed on 17 June.
The Desertification and Drought day was focused on turning degraded land into healthy land. It helps biodiversity to recover.
Theme by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD):
“Restoration. Land. Recovery. We build back better with healthy land” was the theme for 2021 Desertification and Drought Day.
About Desertification and Drought Day:
Desertification and Drought Day – is known as the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought before 2020.
The Desertification and Drought day is observed every year to promote public awareness of international efforts to combat desertification.
Desertification and Drought day Celebration in India:
The Desertification and Drought day was observed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. It was celebrated, with an aim to generate large scale awareness towards understanding the key role of land in all environmental and economic concerns, that world, as well as India is facing now-a days.
Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Babul Supriyo called for generating awareness towards preventing and restoring land degradation for healthier and sustainable ecosystems.
‘Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India’ Released:
On the occasion, the Minister of State released the latest version of ‘Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India’. It has been published by Space Application Centre, ISRO, Ahmedabad.
About Atlas:
The Atlas provides state wise area of degraded lands for the time frame 2018-19. It also provides the change analysis for the duration of 15 years, from 2003-05 to 2018-19.
Currently, Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey is the Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.