World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2024 Celebrated
India observed World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought across various project areas, highlighting efforts to restore degraded land.
Source: GNews World DayWorld Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (WDCDD) 2024 was celebrated across the country, specifically in areas covered by the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana 2.0 (WDC PMKSY 2.0) projects. The Ministry of Rural Development organized these celebrations to raise awareness about land degradation and drought. The theme for WDCDD 2024 was 'United for Land: Our Legacy. Our Future.' This theme emphasizes the importance of collective action to protect and restore land. The events showcased the progress made under WDC PMKSY 2.0 in improving land productivity and water availability. Various stakeholders, including local communities, government officials, and NGOs, participated in these awareness programs. The celebrations aimed to encourage sustainable land management practices and combat the growing threats of desertification and drought.
This event is important for competitive exams, especially for UPSC GS Paper I (Geography) and GS Paper III (Environment & Ecology), and SSC General Awareness. It highlights government initiatives like PMKSY 2.0 related to land and water management. Aspirants should understand the causes and impacts of desertification and drought, along with India's policy responses and international commitments.
- World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (WDCDD) is observed annually on June 17.
- The theme for WDCDD 2024 was 'United for Land: Our Legacy. Our Future.'
- Celebrations in India focused on Watershed Development Component (WDC) areas under PMKSY 2.0.
- The United Nations General Assembly declared June 17 as WDCDD in 1994.
- India is a signatory to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
- WDC PMKSY 2.0 aims to develop 4.5 million hectares of rainfed areas by 2026.
Desertification is the process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture. It leads to a loss of biodiversity and reduced productivity of ecosystems. This phenomenon affects millions globally, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, impacting food security and livelihoods.
PMKSY is a central government scheme launched in 2015 to ensure assured irrigation for all farms and improve water use efficiency. It aims to expand cultivated area under assured irrigation, reduce wastage of water, and improve water use efficiency. WDC PMKSY 2.0 is a component focusing on watershed development.
The UNCCD is one of the three Rio Conventions, adopted in 1994. It is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. Its aim is to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through effective action at all levels, supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements.
UPSC often asks about international conventions like UNCCD, their objectives, and India's role. SSC exams may focus on the date and theme of important days or key government schemes like PMKSY.
Remember 'Drought Day is 17th June' D for Drought, D for Date. The theme 'United for Land' reminds us to work together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought?
World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (WDCDD) is significant because it raises global awareness about the urgent need to reverse land degradation and mitigate the effects of drought. It promotes sustainable land management practices and highlights the importance of international cooperation in addressing these environmental challenges that impact food security and livelihoods worldwide.
What is the main objective of the Watershed Development Component (WDC) under PMKSY 2.0?
The main objective of the Watershed Development Component (WDC) under PMKSY 2.0 is to restore the ecological balance by harnessing, conserving, and developing degraded natural resources such as soil, vegetative cover, and water. It aims to prevent soil erosion, increase water availability, and improve the productivity of rainfed agricultural lands, thereby enhancing rural livelihoods.
When was the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) adopted?
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was adopted in 1994. It is one of the three Rio Conventions, alongside the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, all stemming from the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.