Riyadh: Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, represented India during the Ministerial Dialogue on Finance at the 16th Conference of Parties (CoP16) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Addressing the session themed ‘Unlocking Public and Private Finance for Land Restoration and Drought Resilience’, Yadav emphasized the critical role of adequate financing in achieving the convention’s objectives.
The Minister underscored the importance of financial mechanisms for effective policy implementation, citing the World Drought Atlas, released earlier during the conference. “This document highlights the risks posed by drought and serves as a guide for planning, mobilizing resources, and finding solutions for land degradation,” he said. Shri Yadav called for greater attention to the issue and stressed the need for increased national and international cooperation to address land degradation.
Sharing India’s efforts in combating land degradation, Yadav highlighted the country’s ambitious target of restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030, of which 22.5 million hectares have already been restored. He outlined various initiatives, including:
- Micro-finance for Sustainable Agriculture: Financial facilities extended to farmers through Regional Rural Banks and other institutions.
- Green Credit Programme: A unique initiative to restore degraded land parcels with financial support from industries and other entities.
- Green India Mission: A nationwide eco-restoration program that adopts a landscape-based approach through the convergence of efforts from various sectors.
Yadav called for enhanced collaboration between governments and industries to identify priority areas for land restoration and mobilize resources. “It is of paramount importance that governments and industries work together to achieve the goals of land restoration and drought resilience,” he said.
The Minister also reiterated India’s leadership in promoting environment-friendly lifestyles and the use of traditional knowledge to combat desertification. He urged global stakeholders to partner in scaling up resource mobilization and intensifying efforts toward sustainable land management.