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Policy Prospective For Degraded land and Desert Ecosystem

Presented by-Vikrant SainiM.Sc(P) EVSRoll.No. 04

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Contents• Degraded Lands• Cause of Degraded lands• Types of Degraded lands• Desert ecosystem• Role of constitution• Policies•Modified Strategies and Suggestions• Conclusion• Reference

Degraded Lands

• According to Bhumbla &Khare (1984)

a) which are eco logically unstable

b) Whose top soil has been nearly completely lost

c) which have developed toxicity in root zones for

growth of most plants, both annual crop and trees. • Source : http://megsoil.gov.in/newsletter-vol4/news7.htm

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over utilization of forest resources,

overgrazing,

shifting cultivation,

side effects of development projects and

unscientific land management practices.

Formation of degraded lands is mainly due to human activities like

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Type of wastelands

Culturable wastelands-land capable of or has the potential for agricultural or can be afforested....E.g. Surface waterlogged and marshy lands, shifting cultivation areas, degraded forest lands & pastures, mining lands etc.

Unculturable wastelands-barren land and cannot be put to any productive use, either for agricultural or for afforestation...E.g. barren rocky areas, snow covered or glacial areas

Deserts: definition

• A region which has an arid climate or where evaporation exceeds precipitation

• Steppe: region often adjacent to a desert

• Semiarid climate: irregular precipitation, enough to generate minimal plant growth

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Desert and Steppe areas around the world:

National Remote Sensing Centre

• According to NRSC ,• Haryana• The total geographic area of Haryana is 44212.00 sq. km, out of

which 2347.05 sq. km is under wastelands which accounts for 5.31 % of its geographical area . Degraded pasture/grazing land is the major wasteland category that cover an area of 914.58 sq. km.

• There has been shrinkage to the tune of 919.40 sq. km as compared to 2003 in wastelands . The district with the highest percentage of wastelands is Mewat with 15.81 % of its area and Kurukshetra with 1.41 % of its total geographic area, the least.

• Source: http://www.dolr.nic.in/wasteland2010/wateland%20Introduction-%20forword%20.pdf

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Role of Constitution

• The Indian Constitution • Entry No. 18 of the Seventh Schedule (the State

List) • Land including assessment and collection of

revenue, i. maintenance of land records, ii. land management etc. fall under the State Governments.

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Contd..

• Article 243ZD(1) of the Constitution, • “There shall be constituted in every State at the

district level a District Planning Committee to consolidate the plans prepared by the Panchayats and

the Municipalities in the district and to prepare a draft development plan for the

district as a whole”.

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National Environment Policy

• Ministry of Environment and Forest

(MOEF)

• Approved by Union cabinet on 18th may,

2006

• Including 7 objectives and 14 Principles

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National Environment Policy

Regarding Degraded land

a) Encourage adoption of

• science-based

• Traditional sustainable land use practices, through

research and development

• Extension of knowledge, including

farmer's training, and where necessary, access to

institutional finance.

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Contd..

b)Promote reclamation of wasteland and degraded forestland, through formulation and adoption of multi-stakeholder partnerships, involving the land owning agency, local communities, and investors.

c) Prepare and implement thematic action plans incorporating watershed management strategies, for arresting and reversing desertification, and expanding green cover.

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National Environment Policy

Regarding Desert Ecosystema)Intensive water and moisture

conservation through practices based on traditional and science based knowledge, and relying on traditional infrastructure.

b)Enhancing and expanding green cover based on local species.

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Contd..

c) Reviewing the agronomic practices in

these areas, and promoting agricultural

practices and varieties, which are well

adapted to the desert ecosystem.

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Contd..

d) Promote sustainable alternatives to shifting cultivation

where it is no longer ecologically viable .

e) Encourage agro-forestry, organic farming,

environmentally sustainable cropping patterns, and

adoption of efficient irrigation techniques.

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State Land Use Board

• 1983, a two tier body

National Land Board

National Land Resources Conservation and Development Commission National Land Use and

Wastelands Development council

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(NLRCDC)

(NLB)

(NLWC)

Policies

• United Nations Environment Programme

• The National wasteland Development Board (NWDB)

• Integrated wasteland development Project (IWDP)

• National Land Use & Conservation Board

United Nations Environment Programme• established in 1972 • Integrated Approach to the Planning and

Management of Land Resources• Objective: Provide the greatest sustainable benefits and to

promote the transition to a sustainable and integrated management of land resources.

 To review and develop policies to support the best possible use of land and the sustainable management of land resources.

To improve and strengthen planning, management and evaluation systems for land and land resources.

To create mechanisms to facilitate the active involvement and participation of all concerned, particularly communities and people at the local level.

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Some of the objectives of the NWDB are:1. To improve the physical structure and quality of

marginal lands.2. To improve the availability of good quality of

water for facilitating irrigation of these lands.3. To prevent soil erosion, flood and landslides.4. To conserve biological resources of land for

sustainable use.5. To fulfill the growing need of the land for rapidly

increasing population of the country.

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IWDP

Integrated Wastelands Development Project (IWDP) In situ soil and moisture conservation measures like terracing, trenching, vegetative barriers and drainage line treatment.

Planting and sowing of multi-purpose trees, shrubs, grasses, legumes and pasture land development.Development of small water Harvesting Structures

Promotion of agro-forestry & horticulture.

Awareness raising, training & extension.

Encouraging people's participation through community organization and capacity building

Afforestation of degraded forest and non forest wasteland.

IWDP• Funding Pattern:  The cost is shared on the basis of 11:1

by the Central and State Governments.

• General : The Projects sanctioned both under Desert

Development Programme and Integrated Wasteland

Development Programme are governed by the common

guidelines being issued by the Ministry of Rural

Development, Govt. of India for Watersheds. 

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IWDP Scheme

• In effect since 1989-90 along with NWDB• Only non forest wastelands are taken up.• Its objective are based on village/ micro

watershed plans.• Activities- In situ soil/ moisture conservation, plantation,

agro- forestry & horticulture, training, extension, awareness, capacity building, engineering structures etc.

• Success story- Sivganga district of Tamilnadu.

Source: http://sivaganga.nic.in/wland_dev.htm

Districts under IWDP

1 Gurgoan 7 Jind

2 Yamuna nagar 8 Kaithal

3 Panipat 9 Sonipat

4 Faridabad 10 Rohtak

5 Panchkula 11 Karnal

6 Ambala 12 Mewat

1 Total Project Sanctioned

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2 Project Completed

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3 Project Foreclosed

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4 Project on-going 0

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National Land Use & Conservation Board

• Central Sector Scheme

• Concerning the health and scientific management

of land resources of the country

• Agriculture Minister is Chairman

• Objectives of the Scheme are to serve as a policy

planning, coordinating and monitoring agency Source: http://agricoop.nic.in/dacdivision/nlcb.pdf

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Role …

• Formulate a National Policy and Perspective Plan for Conservation Management & Development of land resources of the

country.• Make an overall review of the progress of

implementation of ongoing schemes.• Consider measures for ensuring that good agricultural

land is not indiscriminately diverted to non-agricultural purposes.

• Coordinate the work of State Land Use Boards.• Sponsor studies to organize regional and national

deliberations/seminars/workshops.26

Achievements

• Work completed under different watershed management

programmers' .

• Celebrated National Land Resources Conservation Week, 2002

from 14th to 20th November, 2002 for generating awareness for

conservation and scientific management of land resources in all

States.

• Holding of National Conference on Land Care Movement for Food,

Water and Livelihood Security held on 21st to 23rd January, 2003 at

Chennai (Tamil nadu) by Soil Conservation Society of India.

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Participation is Necessary

In the area of land utilisation, there is no single approach currently being followed across the country.

• Various sectors at central level such asi. urban, ii. rural, iii. industrial, iv. transport,v. mining, vi.agriculture etc.follow their own approaches.

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Modified Strategies & sugesstions Afforestation & ReforestationManagement of Topographic factors -Contour Ploughing -Strip Farming -Tied Ridges -TerracingProviding Ground coverSocial Forestry programmesAgricultural Practices -Gully control -Leaching -Mulching -use of green manure & Biofertilizer -changing irrigation pracitiesPhytoremediation

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How to make use of unculturable wastelands ??

• The wastelands of these type can be used for non-agricultuaral purpose such as-

For Water harvesting practicesFor constructing Industrial areasFor Residential purposesFor making Roads,Rail tracks,Canals etc...

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Conclusion....

There is nothing called Waste in this God's Creation

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References

• Roy A.k, Verma S.K.,Wasteland management and Environment, Scientific publisher-India

• Gautam, N.C. and Narayan, L.R.A. (1988). Wastelands in India, pp. 96. Pink Publishing House,Mathura, India.

• sivganga.nic.in/wland_dev.htm• dolr.nic.in/wasteland_division.htm• www.icfre.gov.in• sciteclibrary.ru• sciencedirect.com

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