Jharkhand is among the top states of the country witnessing rapid desertification and has the highest area under desertification (68.98 per cent), claims a report of an NGO released on World Environment Day at Ranchi.

The report released by SwitchON Foundation cites the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas 2021 and the Indian State of Forest Report (IFSR) 2021 to detail the severe environmental challenges facing the tribal state.

According to the report, 5.4 million hectares of land were affected by desertification in Jharkhand.

“Being one of the top five states in India which have witnessed rapid desertification, Jharkhand has the highest area under desertification in the country with respect to the total geographical area, i.e. 68.98 per cent. The most significant process of desertification/land degradation in the state is water erosion (50.64 per cent) followed by vegetation degradation (17.30 per cent). However man-made reasons like urbanisation and settlements have led to increased land degradation,” the report states.

The study also revealed that land degradation costs India nearly 2.54 per cent of its GDP (₹3,177.39 billion). Similarly, in terms of total economic loss incurred, the annual cost of land degradation in Jharkhand is estimated at around 218.7 million dollars.

“Forest cover in the state has decreased by 6.7 per cent reflecting the ongoing challenges of forest loss, while the built-up area has surged by 57 per cent between 2017 and 2023, highlighting the alarming pace of urban expansion and its associated impacts on natural ecosystems,” the report states.

“Land restoration and sustainable agriculture practices can increase crop yields and improve food availability, reducing the risk of malnutrition and related health issues,” the report suggests.

“The findings of our latest report are a stark reminder of the urgent need for sustainable practices and land restoration efforts in Jharkhand. With 68.98% of desertification and groundwater levels declining at an alarming rate, it is imperative that we take immediate action. Our initiatives, ranging from waste management drives to regenerative agriculture training are designed to tackle these challenges head-on. By empowering communities and promoting sustainable practices, we aim to build a resilient and thriving ecosystem for future generations,” said managing director of the Foundation, Vinay Jaju.

In response to these alarming findings, SwitchON Foundation organised a dry waste collection drive across different cities of Jharkhand and collected approximately 310 kilogrammes of dry waste.

In Ranchi, people took part in the waste collection drive in collaboration with partners like Swabhiman, Ambedkar Social Institute, Manthan Yuva Sansthan and many other organisations for collective climate action.

“The waste collection drive aimed to raise awareness about the environmental impacts of improper waste disposal and the collective responsibility to maintain clean and sustainable surroundings. Dry wastes like pens, paper, stationery, plastic bottles, wrappers, poly packs, broken toys, food packets, old clothes, and electronic devices were collected and submitted to designated recyclers for proper disposal and recycling,” said a spokesperson of the foundation.

The department of forest environment and climate change and Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board along with the Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED) concluded its 10-day-long public outreach campaign on Wednesday in various parts of the state as part of World Environment Day celebrations. The campaign nudged people to take action to accelerate land restoration, drought resilience and halt desertification.