← All questionsGS1 · 2020 · Geography ·Desertification beyond Climatic Boundaries
QUESTION 5
GS1
10 marks

The process of desertification does not have climatic boundaries. Justify with examples.

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7 min
150 words
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What the examiner wants

Show with examples that desertification also happens in humid and sub-humid areas, not only in dry climates.

Justify with examplesAnswer exactly what the question asks.

Demand-wise check

  1. 1Definition: land degradation in dry areas (UNCCD), but degradation drivers are human≈30 words
  2. 2Examples outside deserts: Western Ghats soil erosion, Jharkhand mining, Punjab salinity, Deccan overgrazing, Amazon deforestation, Sahel≈30 words
  3. 3Causes: deforestation, overgrazing, poor irrigation, mining, urbanisation≈30 words
  4. 4India's response: target to restore 26 million hectares by 2030≈30 words

Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.

Answer plan

DefinitionWhy boundaries don't applyExamples (India and world)MeasuresConclusion

Where marks usually go

  • Explaining desert climates instead of degradation in other zones
  • No non-arid examples, e.g. Jharkhand mining, Punjab salinity, Western Ghats erosion, Amazon clearing

Draw this

  • Map of India showing degraded land in non-arid states

Value addition

  • DataISRO's Desertification Atlas (2021): about 97.85 million hectares (29.7% of India) is undergoing degradation.ISRO SAC Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas, 2021
  • TargetIndia aims to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 under the Bonn Challenge.MoEFCC