Can India's Great Green Wall stop desertification?

DW Planet A・2 minutes read

Dust storms in Delhi worsen due to expanding Thar Desert, resulting in health problems and crop damages, exacerbated by human activities threatening the Aravalli mountain range. Efforts like India's Great Green Wall project aim to restore land in the region, similar to projects in Africa and China combating desertification through massive tree planting initiatives.

Insights

  • Dust storms in Delhi and surrounding states are worsening due to the expanding Thar Desert, causing health problems and crop damage, highlighting the urgent need for environmental conservation.
  • Despite India's Supreme Court banning mining in the Aravalli range multiple times, human activities persist, threatening the natural barrier against the desert, impacting climate, groundwater, and wildlife, emphasizing the struggle between economic interests and environmental preservation.

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Recent questions

  • What are the impacts of dust storms in Delhi?

    Dust storms in Delhi and surrounding states are becoming seasonal, originating from the expanding Thar Desert. These storms lead to health issues among the population, including respiratory problems, and also cause damage to crops in the region.

  • How does the Aravalli mountain range protect against the Thar desert?

    The Aravalli mountain range acts as a natural barrier against the Thar desert, helping to prevent the spread of desertification into surrounding areas. However, human activities such as mining and deforestation are threatening the integrity of the Aravalli range.

  • What measures has India taken to address mining in the Aravallis?

    India's Supreme Court has banned mining in the Aravallis multiple times to protect the region's ecosystem. Despite these efforts, mining activities continue, impacting the climate, groundwater systems, and wildlife in the area.

  • What is the goal of India's Great Green Wall project?

    India proposed the Great Green Wall project in 2019 to combat desertification in the Aravalli region. The project aims to restore 1.5 million hectares of land by planting trees and implementing conservation efforts to restore the ecosystem.

  • What challenges does the African Great Green Wall project face?

    The African Great Green Wall project aims to restore 100 million hectares of land by 2030 but faces challenges in funding and completion. Despite the ambitious goal, the project struggles to secure adequate resources and faces obstacles in achieving its targets.

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Summary

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"Combatting Desertification: Aravalli's Green Wall Project"

  • Dust storms in Delhi and surrounding states are becoming seasonal, originating from the expanding Thar Desert, leading to health issues and crop damage.
  • The Aravalli mountain range acts as a natural barrier against the Thar desert but is under threat due to human activities like mining and deforestation.
  • India's Supreme Court has banned mining in the Aravallis multiple times, yet destruction continues, impacting climate, groundwater, and wildlife.
  • A government study shows significant loss of Aravalli hills to mining, disrupting groundwater systems and leading to deforestation.
  • India proposed a Great Green Wall project in 2019 to combat desertification, aiming to restore 1.5 million hectares of land in the Aravalli region.
  • The African Great Green Wall project aims to restore 100 million hectares of land by 2030 but faces challenges in funding and completion.
  • China's Three-North Shelterbelt Project, ongoing for 44 years, has seen significant investment in tree planting, with a plan to create a forest corridor as large as France and Italy combined by 2050.
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