Desertification and consequent land degradation is a common threat world
over. The problem in this region is severe with extremes of weather
condition, low and erratic rainfall (100-400 mm) and high evapotranspiration. Soils are immature, structure less, and very coarse
in texture with low water holding capacity and poor nutrient status.
Scarcity
of water and poor nutrient status is reflected in the form of poor
vegetation cover and low productivity in the area. It is further
aggravated by high population pressure. The average human and livestock
population densities in Indian arid zone are 108 and 137 km-2,
respectively. This leads to crop intensification and changes in land use
pattern.
Over exploitation of existing vegetation and over irrigation / or
use of saline ground water for irrigation has resulted in land
degradation as evidenced by the menace of sand drift and secondary salinization. Division of Forest Ecology and Desert Development is
mandated to work on some of the important aspects to combat
desertification and increase productivity in the region.
Hetropogon + A. leucophloea ghas jod,
Sindarli, Pali
Objectives
The division is in its endeavor to address the problems of desertification
is working on the following aspects:
