Gully Erosion & Land Degradation in India

Gully Erosion & Land Degradation in India

Sub: Geo

Sec: Indian Physical Geo

Introduction

• India must intervene in controlling gully erosion across 77 districts (mostly in eastern & southern India) to meet the United Nations (UN) target of land degradation neutrality by 2030.
• A 2025 scientific report (Nature) highlights the severity of land degradation, a global issue affecting 20-40% of the world’s total land (UNCCD).

Understanding Land Degradation

• Definition (UNCCD): Loss of biological or economic productivity of land in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas.
• Definition (IPCC): Long-term reduction in biological productivity of land.

Gully Erosion & Its Impact in India

• Gully erosion is a serious obstacle in India’s land degradation neutrality mission
• It is a major cause of land degradation affecting agriculture, water stress, and migration.
• It leads to badlands formation (deeply dissected landscapes).
• Three major forms:

1. Gully systems
2. Badlands: Prolonged gully erosions produce deeply dissected landscapes known as ‘badlands’,
3. Denuded hill slopes

• Eastern India is more affected than central & western India.

Mapping & Management of Gully Erosion

• First detailed spatial inventory of gully erosion in India using high-resolution satellite imagery (≤1m).

Aims to assess:

• Extent of erosion
• Management conditions
• Rehabilitative intervention needs

Key Findings from the Report

• 77 high-priority districts require urgent intervention.
• Worst-affected states:

1. Jharkhand (highest priority for gully management)
2. Chhattisgarh
3. Madhya Pradesh
4. Rajasthan

• Western India: More badlands.
• Eastern India: More gully features, posing greater threats.

Policy Recommendations

• Need for a clear land management policy distinguishing between badlands & gullies.
• Climate change will increase rainfall intensity, leading to higher gully erosion rates.
• Urgent rehabilitation measures required for sustainable land conservation.
• District-level spatial maps will be key to future gully erosion management strategies.

Conclusion

India must prioritize gully erosion control through scientific mapping, policy reforms, and sustainable land management to achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030.