World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought Observed with Focus on Rangelands

The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought was observed all around the world on 17th June 2026 and it highlights the urgent need to address the land degradation, desertification and drought-related challenges. This annual observance serves as a the reminder that healthy land is essential for the food security, biodiversity, climate resilience and sustainable development.

Theme of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2026

The theme for 2026 for the day is the “Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore.”

The theme calls for the greater recognition of the ecological, economic and cultural value of the rangelands.

It also emphasizes the respecting the communities and traditional stewards who depend on these landscapes while investing in to the restoration efforts to reverse degradation.

Rangelands includes the,

• Grasslands
• Savannahs
• Shrublands
• Tundra ecosystems

These ecosystems cover around more than half of the Earth’s land surface and it support the billions of the people via livestock production, biodiversity conservation, water regulation and climate resilience.

Why Rangelands Are Important

Despite their importance, rangelands often receive less attention as compared to the forests and wetlands.

Healthy rangelands contribute to the,

• Food Security
• Biodiversity Conservation
• Climate Resilience
• Water Management

The degradation of the rangelands can lead to the desertification, reduced productivity, biodiversity loss and it increased the vulnerability to drought.

Understanding Desertification and Drought

Desertification refers as the degradation of the land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid regions due to various factors which includes the climate change and unsustainable human activities.

Common causes includes the,

• Deforestation
• Overgrazing
• Unsustainable farming practices
• Soil erosion
• Water scarcity
• Climate change

Drought, on the other hand is the prolonged period of below-average rainfall which can significantly affect the agriculture, water supplies, ecosystems and livelihoods.

India’s Observance of the Day in 2026

India observed the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought around 813 project areas under the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana 2.0 (WDC-PMKSY 2.0).

This program is implemented by the Department of Land Resources under the Ministry of Rural Development.

The nationwide observance also aimed to promote the awareness about the land restoration, drought mitigation and sustainable watershed management.