Fight Against Drought — From Relief to Resilience 📍 Why in News? 🟢… — UPSC environment mindmaps — TG.ME

🔆 Fight Against Drought — From Relief to Resilience 📍 Why in News? 🟢 Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav called for a fundamental shift in the global approach to droughts — from reactive relief to proactive, technology-enabled resilience. 🟢 He made the remarks at the 17th Conference of Parties (COP17) to the UNCCD, being held in Mongolia. 📍 Drought as a Development Challenge 🟢 Droughts are no longer merely occasional events but a defining development challenge. 🟢 They increasingly disrupt global water security, agricultural food systems, biodiversity and economic stability. 🟢 Land degradation currently impacts up to 40% of the planet’s land surface, affecting the livelihoods of billions worldwide. 📍 India’s Approach — “Restore the Forest” 🟢 India called for a coordinated, multi-institutional approach integrating early warning, mitigation, relief and community resilience. 🟢 Rainfall monitoring and satellite-based drought assessments can trigger preparedness at inter-ministerial and State levels. 🟢 Focus on catchment and riverscape forestry to reduce erosion, improve water retention and recharge groundwater. 🟢 Integrate predictive technologies, localised early-warning monitoring and proactive land-management policies. 📍 UNCCD — Prelims Pointers 🟢 UNCCD was adopted in 1994, following the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. 🟢 It is one of the three major Rio Conventions, alongside UNFCCC and CBD. 🟢 It is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environmental management directly to sustainable land stewardship. 🟢 COP17 provides a major negotiation platform on land degradation and drought resilience. 🟢 197 member parties participate along with civil society, scientists and international financial institutions. 📍 COP17 — Key Objective 🟢 The conference aims to translate high-level environmental commitments into measurable, investable solutions for water and food security over the next decade. 🟢 The theme highlighted in the article is “Restoring Land. Restoring Hope.” 🎯 Mains Application: A resilient drought-management strategy requires a shift from post-disaster relief to anticipatory governance, combining early-warning systems, ecosystem restoration, technology and community participation. 🎯 Mains Question: “Drought management must move from reactive relief to proactive resilience.” Discuss the measures required to strengthen India’s drought resilience in the context of land degradation and climate change. (15 marks, 250 words) #Environment