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TaxTMI 
The idea of the Great Green Wall of India, aimed at greening the Thar Desert, may sound like a daunting — even “Mission Impossible” — task. But with a strategic, science-based, and community-driven approach, it becomes “Mission Achievable.” Below is a framework that outlines how India can turn this bold vision into reality, inspired partly by the Great Green Wall of Africa
Mission Objective:
To establish a 1,400+ km long and up to 15 km wide greenbelt along the Aravalli-Delhi-Gujarat corridor, stretching across Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, and Gujarat, to:
- Combat desertification
- Restore degraded land
- Sequester carbon
- Enhance biodiversity
- Support local livelihoods
Strategic Pillars to Make It Achievable
1. Ecological Zoning & Native Plant Selection
- Use xerophytic, salt-tolerant, and drought-resistant species like:
- Prosopis cineraria (Khejri)
- Acacia senegal, Salvadora persica
- Indigenous grasses (e.g., Cenchrus spp.)
- Align species with soil moisture, salinity, and local topography.
2. Innovative Water Solutions
- Install sub-surface drip irrigation using treated wastewater.
- Build rainwater harvesting tanks, check dams, and traditional water storage systems like Tanka and Kund.
- Promote soil moisture conservation via mulching and micro-catchments.
3. Technology & Remote Sensing
- Use satellite monitoring (ISRO) and drones to map desertification and vegetation cover.
- AI and GIS for predictive land degradation modelling and species tracking.
- App-based dashboards to monitor plantation survival and maintenance.
4. Community-Led Restoration & Agroforestry
- Engage local communities, especially women’s SHGs, in nursery development and greening.
- Introduce agroforestry models integrating trees with crops like pearl millet, cluster beans, and moth beans.
- Provide carbon credits, eco-tourism incentives, and livelihood training.
5. Policy & Governance Alignment
- Integrate with:
- Desert Development Programme (DDP)
- CAMPA funds
- National Mission for a Green India
- National Action Plan on Climate Change
- Establish a Green Wall Authority (multi-state coordination body) under MoEFCC.
Why It’s Difficult (but not Impossible)
Challenge | Solution |
Harsh arid climate | Native drought-tolerant species + water-efficient irrigation |
Land ownership & fragmentation | Community leasing, revenue-sharing models, and legal recognition |
Long gestation periods | Use fast-growing nurse species alongside slow-growing natives |
Livelihood disconnection | Integrate livelihood-linked forestry (e.g., gum Arabic, medicinal plants) |
Maintenance & grazing threats | Community watch groups, fencing, and regulated grazing zones |
Potential Impact by 2040
- 26 million hectares restored (across semi-arid zones)
- 15–20% groundwater recharge improvement in select regions
- 1 million+ green jobs in desert districts
- 250–300 million tonnes of CO2 sequestered
- Boost to desert biodiversity: lizards, birds, insects, and keystone species
Closing Message:
The Great Green Wall of India can be Indias ecological legacy for the 21st century — a living barrier against climate change, poverty, and desertification. What seems “Mission Impossible” becomes “Mission Achievable” when science, policy, and people act together.