But the range has suffered extensive Degradation Due to Deforestation, Mining, Urbanisation, Agriculture Practices and Development. Notably, the Degradation of the Aravallis is not an isolated phenomenon, Rather a Broader Part of Extensive Ecological Damage Largel Drive by Human-Induced Factors Such as deforestation, Hight Loss, Annd Calimate Chaimate Chaimate Chaimate Chaimate Chaimate Chaimate Chaimate Chaimate.

Earth is experiencing biodiversity loss at an alarming rate. Studies have estimated that species are now going extinct at attic 10 to 100 times highs than the natural rate. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Over one-third of the world species are now now threatened with extinction. Around 40 per cent

A recent report by IPbes (Intergovernal Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosestem Services) Warns That Continued Biodiversity Decline Decline Decline The Progress of Sushtainable Development. Related to Poverty, Hunger, Health, Water, etc. The Degradation of Rivers, Forests, Wetlands, and Coastal Zones are not only accepting Ecological collapse but also widening social and economic initiatives, particularly in the global south, india.

Amidst this, a Shift Towards Ecological Restoration-One Actively Revivers Degraded Land and Diminishing Biodiversity-is the need of the hur to support well-being and climate resilience. This imperfect is especially Relevant for India, where the combined pressures of rapid development and climate change are accelerating the Degradation of Forests, wetlands, rivers, and Other fragile ecosytms.

Ecological Restoration in India

Currently, about 30 per cent of the land in India is degraded, and 25 per cent is undergoing development. Although the National Forest Policy Mandals A minimum

Considering these problems, India has steadily recognized the significance of Environmental Conservation and Restoration. The Aravalli Green Wall Project is a case in point. In addition, it enacted laws such as the wildlife protection act 1972, Van (Sanrakshan evam samvardhan) adhiniyam, 1980, and the biological division acute 2002 to protect 2002 to protect its diminishing prestitude. The water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, AIMS to prevent and control water pollution and restore the wholesomeness of water.

In 1990-1991, The National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA) was launched, which aimed to restore the Ecological Balance in Degraded Rainfed Regions by Promoting Green Cover. Other programs like the National Affairs Program (2000) and the National Mission for a Green India (2014) was launched to Protect and restore the diminishing forest cover of India.

In 2016, The Compensatory Affortation Act (Campa) was enacted to ensure that Forestland diverted for non-forerest purposes is Compensated Through Affortation and Ecological Regeneration. To restore the Degraded Land and Promote Sustainable Land Management Practices, The National Action Plan Plan to Combat Desertification, 2022, Was Launched, Which Aims to Restore 26 Million Hectures of Degraded Land by 2030 Through. Interventions.

Furthermore, FlagShip Programs Like Namami Gange, Yamuna Action Plan, And National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA) Were Put I. Additionally, the polluter pays principle under Indian Environmental Jurisprudence Mandates Ecological Restoration by the default entity in case of industrial degradation.

In this context, the European Union’s Nature Restoration Law Merits Attention, which is a key part of its biodiversity strategy and broader european green deal.

European Union’s Nature Restoration Law

The European Union’s Nature Restoration Law, which Entered Into Force on June 17, 2024, AIMS to Reverse Biodiversity Loss and Build Resilient Ecosystems. It seeks to contribute to the broader goals related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, land degradation neutraity and enhancing food security.

To achieve these objectives, the regulation sets out quality and quantitative targets to restore terrestrial, coastal, marine, and freshwater ecosestes. It covers forests, wetlands, grasslands, rivers, and lakes for improving and restoring biodiverse habitats.

The regulation also aims to reverse biodiversity loss by halting the decline of pollinators like bes and butterflies by 2030. It seeks to enhance biodiversity in Agriculture in Agriculture in Throughs Through Measures Such. Grassland butterfly populations and increasing high-division landscape features.

To include the Green Cover, Member States Are Expected To Plant At Least Three Billion Additional Trees By 2030 and To Insure No Net Loss of Green Space By 2030. On the Implementation Front, The Reginal ReMBERS. States to Submit National Restoration Plans by September 1, 2026. It will cover the period up to 2050, with intermediate deadlines, and will be monitored by the european commission, whichever Parliament.

Global Efforts for ecosytem revival

In addition to this regional initiative, considerable education at the global level is also also being investing towards the cause. Over the past few decades, various international initiatives have been taken to address Environmental Degradation, Particularly biodiversity loss. One of the earliest Global Efforts was the establishment of the international union for conservation of nature (IUCN) in 1948, which has played a pivotal role in the conservation and restoration of note.

Since 1964, The IUCN has been maintaining the red list of threatened species as a key to Monitoring Ecosystem Health and Identifying Restoration Priorities. Global Emphasis on Restoration Inclination is Also Evidence In Key International Agreements like the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cits), The United Nations Convention. (Unccd), and the convention on biological division (CBD).

Principle 5 of the Earth Charter, 2000, Also underscores the need to Protect and Restore the integrity of Earth’s ecosystems, Emphasizing biodiversity. It may not be noted here that Idea of ​​Restoration Gained Prominance With The Aichi biodiversity target, which had called for restoring at least 15% of Degraded Ecosestems by 2020. Global biodiversity framework, adopted in 2022 at copy

In support of these efforts, the United Nations declared 2021-2030 as the decade on ecosestem restoration, aiming to drive global, coordinated action to restore ecosestems. While these initiatives have significantly advanced the notice of nature, the absence of a cohesive, enforceable global framework along with the lack of Binding Targets.

Recognising Nature’s Intrinsic Value

In the face of accepting environmental degradation, nature restoration needs to become new air, going beyond protection alone. While conservation effects have historically focused on preserving what remins, today’s Ecological Crisis Demands proactive regnection of what has been lost. To Achieve this, A Global Model Legal Framework on Ecosestem Restoration With Binding Obligations, A Funding Mechanism and Knowledge-Saraing Platforms, Akin to Climate Treaties, Perhaps Would In The Rang. Direction.

For a country like India, Nature Restoration is critical. Howver, Most of the Restoration Laws, Programs and Policies in the Country Seem To Be Eather Conservation-Centric or Fraggmented in their Approach. In light of this, there appears to be a need for a comprehensive national framework on ecosestem restoration. Such a framework may be basically on Ecological Baseline and Biodiversity Mapping and Mandated Across All Levels of Government – From Centre to States and Districts. As nature also holds socio -conomic and cultural values, restoration affors can also be basically on a bottom-top approach with active community involvement. In this regard, the eu restoration law offers a blueprint.

Lastly, while Ecological Restoration offers undeniable socio-disconomic benefits, it may not be reduced to a Utilitarian exercise that Serves but human needs but be guided to be guided by the register of nature. Value and the principle of biocentrism, which places all forms of life at the centre of moral concerns.

Post Read Questions

Examine the status and challenges of land degradation and development in India. How do national policies address these issues?

How do the European Union’s Nature Restoration Law serve as a model for global ecosestem restoration efforts? What lessons can India Draw from it?

Given That India’s Forest Cover Stands Below The Mandated 33%, How Can Restoration Strategies Be Integated Into National Development Plans Without Compromising Ecological Integrity?

Why is Ecological Restoration Emerging as a Global Imperative in the face of accepting Environmental Degradation? Illustrate with examples.

What is the concept of ‘Rights of Nature’ and how does it challenge traditional anthropocentric environmentism?

(Renuka is a doctoral researcher at Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla.)

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