Bhupender Yadav Inaugurates Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management at Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education in Dehradun

In a significant move towards addressing land degradation and promoting sustainable land management, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav inaugurated the Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management (CoE-SLM) at the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) in Dehradun.

Aims of the Centre of Excellence

The CoE-SLM has identified several key aims to guide its activities:

1. Setting Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets:
   The CoE-SLM aims to define and implement LDN targets, focusing on restoring degraded land and achieving a balance between land degradation and restoration.
2. Developing drought risk and early warning systems:
   Recognizing the significance of early warning systems in mitigating the impact of droughts, the CoE-SLM will work towards developing robust systems to address drought-related challenges effectively.
3. Mainstreaming gender considerations:
   The CoE-SLM aims to promote gender considerations and ensure the active participation of women in sustainable land management practices and decision-making processes related to land management.
4. Promoting good governance of land tenure and rights:
   Effective governance of land tenure and rights is crucial for sustainable land management. The CoE-SLM will focus on promoting good governance practices that ensure equitable access to and responsible use of land resources.
5. Assessing the impacts of land degradation:
   The CoE-SLM will conduct comprehensive assessments to understand the impact of land degradation on greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss, providing insights for effective mitigation strategies.
6. Facilitating the restoration of degraded land:
   The CoE-SLM will provide technical support, capacity building, and knowledge sharing to facilitate the restoration of degraded land at the national and sub-national levels. It will serve as a hub for innovative and sustainable land management practices.
7. Promoting South-South Cooperation:
   Recognizing the global nature of land degradation issues, the CoE-SLM will actively engage in South-South Cooperation, fostering collaboration among countries to address land degradation challenges and share best practices in sustainable land management.

Objectives of the Centre of Excellence

To achieve its aims, the CoE-SLM has laid down specific objectives:

1. Assessing land degradation:
   The CoE-SLM will conduct detailed assessments to identify areas affected by land degradation, evaluate causes and extent, and develop strategies for restoration and sustainable land management.
2. Capacity building on sustainable land management frameworks:
   The Centre of Excellence will enhance the capacity of stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, and land managers, in implementing sustainable land management frameworks aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
3. Strengthening assessment, monitoring, and reporting of land-based indicators:
   The CoE-SLM will collaborate with relevant stakeholders to strengthen the assessment, monitoring, and reporting of land-based indicators outlined by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

The establishment of the CoE-SLM at ICFRE in Dehradun follows the announcement made by the Prime Minister of India during the 14th Conference of the Parties (COP-14) of the UNCCD in 2019. The CoE-SLM aims to spearhead initiatives contributing to Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets. By addressing land degradation and promoting sustainable land management practices, the CoE-SLM plays a vital role in fostering a healthier and more sustainable environment.

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