Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Land Restoration Called Investment in Food, Water and Livelihoods
Bhupender Yadav said repairing damaged land should be viewed as an investment.
He said healthy land helps provide food and water.
It can also support plants, animals and people’s livelihoods.
The minister spoke at an international environmental meeting in Mongolia.
The meeting discussed ways to fund healthier land and better protection from droughts.
Yadav said India restored 21.76 million hectares of degraded land from 2011 to 2020.
He said land restoration is an important part of sustainable development in India.
He also said it helps make development more resilient over time.
Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said restoring degraded land is an investment rather than a cost.
Yadav spoke during a ministerial dialogue at the 17th Conference of Parties in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
The dialogue focused on innovative financial mechanisms for healthy land and drought resilience.
Yadav said India restored 21.76 million hectares of degraded land between 2011 and 2020.
He described restoration as central to India’s sustainable and resilient development efforts.
- Who
- Bhupender Yadav, India’s Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- What
- He said restoring degraded land is an investment in food, water, biodiversity, livelihoods and long-term resilience.
- When
- Monday; India’s cited restoration figures cover 2011-2020.
- Where
- At the 17th Conference of Parties under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
- Why
- The minister was addressing financing for healthy land and drought resilience and explaining the role of restoration in India’s development.
- Speaker
- Bhupender Yadav, Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- Conference
- 17th Conference of Parties under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
- Location
- Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
- Dialogue theme
- Innovate Financial Mechanisms for Healthy Land and Drought Resilience
- India’s restoration
- 21.76 million hectares of degraded land restored
- Reported period
- 2011-2020
- Referenced framework
- India’s second progress report on the Bonn Challenge