According to a 2025 scientific report published in Nature, India needs to intervene on the gully erosion of 77 districts (70 per cent of which is in eastern and southern India) to meet the United Nations agenda of land degradation by 2030,
Key Findings from the 2025 Scientific Report:
- 77 districts in India require urgent intervention to combat gully erosion.
- 70% of affected areas are located in eastern and southern India.
- India’s gully erosion leads to badlands formation, reduced agricultural productivity, and increased water stress and droughts, often triggering village migrations.
Global Context:
- 20–40% of the world’s land is degraded, per the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
- Nearly half of the global population depends on land at risk, including croplands, drylands, wetlands, forests, and grasslands.
- The UN’s 2030 target aims to reverse land degradation.
India’s Most Affected States:
- Jharkhand (highest gully erosion)
- Chhattisgarh
- Madhya Pradesh
- Rajasthan
Understanding Gully Erosion:
- Occurs when running water carves deep channels (>30 cm) into the soil.
- Forms three distinct landscapes:
- Gully systems
- Badlands (deeply dissected landscapes)
- Denuded hill slopes
- Western India: More badlands.
- Eastern India: More gully erosion features.
(Source: Down To Earth)
