World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2025 Theme and Host

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World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2025 Theme

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought Theme 2025 is "Restore the Land. Unlock the Opportunities." It highlights the powerful impact of land restoration, emphasizing how reviving degraded land can generate employment, enhance food and water security, drive climate action, and strengthen economic resilience. The aim is to restore 1.5 billion hectares of degraded land by 2030.

Desertification and Drought Day 2025 Host

Colombia will host the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought in 2025. The main event will take place in Bogotá, where the Colombian government will lead initiatives that spotlight the critical importance of accelerating land restoration efforts as a pathway to sustainability, peace, and inclusive growth.

Background of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1994 through resolution A/RES/49/115, following the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. It was first observed in 1995 to raise awareness about desertification and drought-related problems.

This day also marks the anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in 1994. The UNCCD is the only legally binding international agreement that links environment and development to sustainable land management. Over the years, the day has united nations to work together and reduce land degradation, food insecurity, and poverty. 

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What is Desertification?

Desertification means the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas. It happens mainly because of human activities and climate change. It does not mean deserts are spreading. Instead, it means land that was once green and productive is losing its life and turning dry. 

Desertification can happen due to cutting down forests, overgrazing, poor farming practices, or a lack of rainfall. It affects soil health, food production, clean water access, and the overall health of the environment. Desertification puts millions of people at risk, especially those in poor rural areas, and therefore, urgent policy measures are required.

Causes of Desertification

Desertification is caused by both natural and human-made factors. Here are the main causes:

• Deforestation: Cutting trees removes natural cover, making the soil dry and open to erosion.

• Overgrazing: Too many animals feed on plants, leaving the land bare.

• Unsustainable farming: Overuse of land without giving it time to recover reduces soil fertility.

• Urbanisation: Building cities and roads removes green areas and increases land degradation.

• Climate Change: Changing rainfall patterns and rising temperatures make the land dry faster.

• Poor water use: Wasting water and using it carelessly reduces water available for land and crops.

If these problems are not fixed, more land will become barren, leading to food shortages and environmental disasters.

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Initiatives to Combat Desertification

Several global and national initiatives are working to reduce desertification. Here are some major efforts:

Global Initiatives

Here are some global initiatives taken to combat desertification:

• UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD): The main UN treaty fighting desertification, promoting sustainable land use. India is a signatory and hosted COP14, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable land management.

• Bonn Challenge: Global goal to restore 350 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. India pledged to restore 26 million hectares by 2030.

• Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN): A global goal to balance land degradation and restoration.

Indian Government Initiatives

India has undertaken a comprehensive set of initiatives to combat desertification and land degradation. These include:

• National Action Programme to Combat Desertification: Prepared in 2001 to address increasing desertification through targeted actions.

• National Mission for a Green India (GIM): Focuses on increasing and improving forest and tree cover.

• Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA): Funds and supports afforestation to compensate for forest land diverted for non-forest uses.

• Green Wall of India: Inspired by Africa’s Great Green Wall, this project aims to reforest a 1,400 km stretch across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.

• National Afforestation Programme: Targets afforestation of degraded forest lands, implemented since 2000

These schemes aim to restore degraded land, increase forest cover, and promote sustainable farming practices.

Desertification and Drought Day 2025 Activities

Many events are held worldwide to mark Desertification and Drought Day 2025. These activities help raise awareness and motivate action:

• School and college awareness drives: Posters, quizzes, and lectures for students.

• Tree plantation campaigns: Community tree planting to restore green cover.

• Workshops and webinars: Experts speak on land degradation and solutions.

• Documentary screenings: Films on drought-affected communities and land recovery.

• Clean-up drives: Removing waste from drylands and riverbeds.

• Art and essay competitions: Encourage young minds to share ideas.

• Government-led events: Launch of new policies or reports.

• Social media campaigns: Hashtags like #DesertificationDay and #RestoreLand help spread the message to a global audience.

To sum up, Desertification is a global problem, but local action makes a big difference. On World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2025, let’s all take steps to save our land and water.

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