India’s Land Restoration Opportunity | Madhav Pai

Land Degradation & Restoration Opportunity - 50% of the land in Badwani district is unproductive due to water erosion, reflecting a widespread issue across India [1] - India has 100 million hectares (247 million acres) of land suitable for restoration through forest protection and landscape restoration [3] - Restoration has the potential to improve incomes for 700 million people in India who depend on the land [3][17] - Restoration could sequester 3 to 42 billion tons of above-ground carbon by 2040, aiding India in meeting its NDC commitments [3][17] Restoration Approach & Implementation - Restoration involves landscape principles, topography, and geology, considering both development and conservation [4] - Interventions should be community-driven and locally led, adapting to each village's unique challenges and ecology [6][5] - An integrated approach to restoration includes soil moisture conservation, water holding structures, tree-based interventions, and sustainable agriculture [7] - The "right place, right use, right species" mantra guides the selection of forestry plantations (slopes > 25%), horticulture (slopes 10-15%), riparian restoration, open grasslands, and agroforestry [8] - Local wisdom, knowledge, leaders, self-help groups, and farmer producer organizations are crucial for driving implementation [9] Scaling Restoration Efforts - Simplifying landscape restoration plans, codifying them, and making them accessible to local institutions is necessary [13] - Leveraging technology, including geospatial technologies and citizen science tools, is essential for measuring improvements in biodiversity, soil health, and carbon capture [14] - Unlocking working capital and low-interest debt for small enterprises can spur local economies [15]