India restored 21.76 million hectares in 2011–2020, Bhupender Yadav tells UNCCD COP17
At an IUCN side event at UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar on 24 August 2026, Bhupender Yadav said India restored 21.76 million hectares during 2011–2020 under its Bonn Challenge pledge.
Summary
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav spoke at an IUCN side event at the 17th Conference of Parties (COP17) of the UNCCD in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on 24 August 2026. Yadav said India is among the major pledgers to the Bonn Challenge, having raised its 2015 commitment to restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. India's Second Progress Report on the Bonn Challenge, covering 2011–2020, shows 21.76 million hectares brought under restoration, generating about 1.22 billion person-days of employment. The next reporting cycle, for 2021–2025, is being done with the ICFRE Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management and IUCN.
Key facts
- Date / venue
- 24 Aug 2026, IUCN side event, UNCCD COP17, Ulaanbaatar
- Bonn Challenge target
- 26 million ha by 2030 (enhanced from 2015 pledge)
- Restored 2011–2020
- 21.76 million ha
- Employment
- About 1.22 billion person-days
- Next cycle
- 2021–2025, with ICFRE CoE-SLM and IUCN
Practice MCQs 3 questions
According to India's Second Progress Report on the Bonn Challenge, presented at UNCCD COP17 in August 2026, how much land did India bring under restoration during 2011–2020?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — 21.76 million hectares
India brought 21.76 million hectares under restoration during 2011–2020, generating about 1.22 billion person-days of employment.
Under its enhanced Bonn Challenge commitment, India aims to restore how much degraded and deforested land by 2030?
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Correct answer: C — 26 million hectares
India's initial 2015 Bonn Challenge commitment was later enhanced to 26 million hectares by 2030.
India's next Bonn Challenge reporting cycle, for 2021–2025, is being carried out in collaboration with which two bodies?
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Correct answer: A — ICFRE Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management and IUCN
Yadav said the 2021–2025 cycle is being done with the ICFRE Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management and IUCN, tracking area restored, financial flows and employment.