India committed to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030: Minister

India aligns with sustainable development goals on food security and climate crisis through effective land management, Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav said at the UN Desertification Summit in Riyadh on Monday. Bhupender Yadav Reiterating India’s commitment to restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030, the minister said that India’s journey represents a transformative narrative of commitment and innovation. “Land degradation not just an environmental issue but a critical socioeconomic challenge,” he said, adding that at COP14 during India’s presidency, the country committed to restoring 26 million hectare of degraded land by 2030 apart from setting up of a centre on sustainable land management. At COP16, countries are expected to decide on collective actions to: accelerate restoration of degraded land by 2030 and beyond; boost resilience to intensifying droughts and sand and dust storms; restore soil health and scale up nature-positive food production; secure land rights and promote equity for sustainable land stewardship; ensure that land continues to provide climate and biodiversity solutions among others.