Community-led efforts needed to tackle drought, desertification

Union minister for environment, forest and climate change Bhupender Yadav on Tuesday underscored the urgent need for community-led ecological restoration to tackle the twin challenges of desertification and drought while warning that reckless exploitation of natural resources, unsustainable farming practices, and unchecked use of fertilizers and pesticides have severely degraded land quality across India.

- HT Correspondent

JODHPUR:

"Nature has given us everything, but many man-made actions are disrupting that balance. Healthy land is not just an environmental concern; it's vital for regional stability, food security, and our collective future," Yadav said while addressing the inaugural session of a national workshop on "Strategies for Combating Desertification and Drought" held at the Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI) in Jodhpur to mark the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2025.

Organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the event was attended by environmental experts, policymakers, scientists and development partners to chart actionable strategies for sustainable land management, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.