Union minister for environment, forest and climate change presided over a New Delhi event on the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought and said India has brought 21.76 million (mn) hectares under restoration towards a Bonn Challenge target of restoring 26 million hectares by 2030. He described the effort as a convergence of policy, science and public participation that advances sustainable development. The minister reported that restoration activities have generated one point two two billion (bn) person-days of employment.

He said more than 27 million (mn) hectares have been treated under the watershed component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, and that over 61.3 million geo-tagged natural resource management assets support planning and monitoring. Joint forest management covers about 81.53 million hectares and remains a major community-based forest management system. The minister highlighted priorities on landscape restoration and drought resilience.

Green India Mission and CAMPA supported activities have greened and afforested about zero point one seven million and zero point three two million hectares respectively over the past five years. More than 0.121 million hectares have been brought under agroforestry and bamboo plantations outside forest cover, nearly 60,000 hectares. The Aravalli Green Wall Initiative surpassed its annual targets in the financial year 2025-26.

He said two point six six bn saplings have been planted under the national campaign and that platforms such as Bhuvan, VEDAS and Yuktdhara enable evidence-based planning. He announced a target to restore 54,000 hectares of mangrove by 2028 under the MISHTI programme and said conservation of wetlands, including Ramsar sites, is guided by the national aquatic ecosystems plan. More than 260 million soil health cards have been issued to prevent desertification.

A special issue of Indian Forester and India’s second Bonn Challenge progress report were released to document restoration efforts and policy perspectives. About 200 participants from government, research institutions, international organisations and civil society attended and discussed advancing Land Degradation Neutrality. The minister urged continued collaboration to accelerate restoration, strengthen livelihoods and secure resilient ecosystems for future generations.