Nature Restoration Law for India

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Recently The European union approved its Nature Restoration Law which aims to make continent-wide efforts to restore degraded ecosystems.

What is European Union’s Nature restoration law?

• Nature Restoration Law – NRL was adopted by the EU’s Environmental Council in 2024  to restore the health of Europe’s ecosystems.
• Aim – Recover at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems by 2050.
• The NRL is part of the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the European Green Deal.
• Components of NRL
  • Land restoration - Restoring drained peatlands under agricultural use.
  • Coastal restoration - Restoring the habitats of iconic marine species such as dolphins and porpoises, sharks and seabirds.
  • Agricultural ecosystems – Reversing the decline of pollinator population by 2030.
  • River restoration – Restoring at least 25,000 km of rivers to a free-flowing state by 2030.
  • Greening urban space – No net loss of green urban space and tree cover by 2030, and an increase in their area thereafter.

What are the socio-economic benefits of nature restoration?

• Economic growth – According to the World Economic Forum, nature restoration could globally generate economic returns of up to $10 trillion annually by 2030.
• Enhancing agricultural productivity – Restoring nature improves soil fertility, water retention, enhanced pollination.
• Reduce water scarcity – Restoring forests and wetlands  improve water supply and quality.
• Meeting SDG targets – Goal 15 calls for the sustainable management of forests and combating desertification.
• Job creation – Increased employment in rural areas, especially in sectors like reforestation and agriculture thus improve the livelihood.
• Tourism promotion – Eco-tourism development in rural areas leads to sustainable growth.
• Mitigate climate change – By restoring its ecosystems, India can enhance its carbon sinks and meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement.
• Disaster resilience – Developing infrastructure that are disaster resilient to floods, droughts, and extreme weather events, making communities more resilient to climate-related disasters.

Why India needs a natural land restoration law?

• Increasing land degradation - According to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas, nearly 30% of India's total geographical area is under land degradation.

Land degradation is prevalent in key States such as Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, which together form 23.79% of India’s desertified land area.

• India’s land degradation increased to 97.85 million hectares in 2018-19, a sharp increase from 94.53 million hectares in 2003-05.
• Desertification - It is a growing concern in India, with 83.69 million hectares affected in 2018-19.
• No legally binding targets – It needs a more comprehensive approach and a law that mandates the restoration of its degraded landscapes, ensuring the long-term sustainability of its ecosystems.
• River pollution – India’s major rivers are degraded due to the rapid urbanization.
• Water scarcity – 820 million Indians face high to extreme water stress and 200,000 Indians die every year due to inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene.
• Maintain ecological balance - India is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, is pushing several species towards extinction.
• Deforestation and poor land management accelerate erosion, depleting arable land and impacting food security.

What are the recommendations for India’s NRL?

• Restoration targets – India should aim to restore 20% of its degraded land by 2030, with a goal of restoring all ecosystems by 2050.
  • This includes forests, wetlands, rivers, agricultural lands, and urban green spaces.
• Wetland restoration – Restore 30% of degraded wetlands by 2030 as critical wetlands such as the Sundarbans and Chilika Lake support biodiversity and carbon sequestration.
• Biodiversity in agriculture – Agriculture dominates India’s landscape so promoting agroforestry and sustainable practices could restore farmlands.
• River restoration – Focus on restoring free-flowing rivers, such as the Ganga and Yamuna, addressing pollution and obstructions.
• Urban green spaces – Promoting urban forests in cities which face heat islands and declining air quality.
• Ensure that no net loss of green spaces in urban areas.

Reference

The Hindu| Nature Restoration Law In India