World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed annually on 17 June under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification to raise awareness about desertification, land degradation, and drought.
The 2026 theme is “Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore.”
India has restored 21.76 million hectares of degraded land towards its target of 26 million hectares by 2030 under the Bonn Challenge.
India’s commitment to restore 26 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by 2030 is among the world’s largest land restoration pledges.
The Bonn Challenge, launched in 2011, aims to restore 350 million hectares of degraded and deforested landscapes globally by 2030.
Over 27 million hectares have been treated under the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, and more than 61.3 million geo-tagged natural resource management assets have been created.
Under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign, over 266 crore saplings have been planted across the country.
Digital platforms such as Bhuvan, VEDAS, and Yuktdhara are supporting science-based land restoration planning and monitoring.
The Aravalli Green Wall Initiative exceeded its annual restoration targets during FY 2025–26.
Under the MISHTI programme, India aims to restore 54,000 hectares of mangrove forests by 2028.
Source: PIB
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