Title : Land degradation and desertification in the Thar Desert of India: A geographical analysis
Abstract:
The Thar desert, spanning western Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat, represents one of India’s most fragile desert ecosystems, where land degradation and desertification are advancing rapidly. National assessments highlight the gravity of the issue: as per the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India (ISRO-SAC, 2018-19), nearly 97.85 million hectares (29.7 percent) of India’s total geographical area are degraded, of which 83.69 million hectares are desertified. Rajasthan alone home to the majority of the Thar desert accounts for the largest share of this degradation, with desertification expanding steadily from 2003-05 to 2018-19. The dominant degradation processes in the Thar desert are wind erosion, water scarcity, vegetation degradation, and unsustainable land use practices such as overgrazing, deforestation, and groundwater over extraction. Wind erosion is particularly acute in the sandy landscapes of western Rajasthan, threatening agricultural productivity, biodiversity, and rural livelihoods. These trends pose significant risks to India’s commitment to Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) by 2030, a goal that includes restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by the same deadline under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) with implications for food security, water resources, and climate resilience. Addressing degradation in the Thar desert requires integrated interventions: sand dune stabilization, afforestation, water harvesting, drought resilient agriculture, and community based land restoration. Ensuring progress in the Thar region is central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 13 and 15) and to safeguarding the livelihoods of millions dependent on this fragile ecosystem.
Key words: Thar Desert; Rajasthan; Land degradation; Desertification; Land Degradation Neutrality
