Government plans 1,400km long great ‘green wall’ of India to deal with land degradation

The government of India is mulling an ambitious plan to create a 1,400km long and 5km wide green belt from Gujarat to the Delhi-Haryana border as part of India’s efforts to deal with land degradation and the eastward march of the Thar desert. The project intends to counter climate change and desertification and is inspired by Africa's “Great Green Wall” from Dakar to Djibouti. The idea is at the initial stage and has already generated a lot of excitement among officials in different ministries. The project, if approved, may turn out to be a legacy programme in India’s efforts to deal with land degradation and the eastward march of the Thar desert.