Description

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Context

A 2025 scientific report highlights urgent need for India to intervene in managing gully erosion to combat land degradation with a focus on eastern & southern regions.

Key Highlights

Gully erosion is major cause of land degradation in India particularly in eastern & southern regions with 77 districts identified as high priority for intervention.

Gully erosion leads to Badlands negatively affecting agricultural productivity, water resources & increasing drought risks.

Eastern India especially Jharkhand faces most severe gully erosion with an urgent need for targeted management interventions.

Increasing rainfall intensity due to climate change is expected to exacerbate gully erosion rates further challenging land management efforts.

The report emphasizes need for a detailed spatial inventory of gully erosion & formulation of policies to manage both badlands & gullies.

High-resolution satellite imagery is being used to create detailed maps of gully systems essential for managing land degradation at district & state levels.

Effective rehabilitation & management strategies are critical to achieving India land degradation neutrality target by 2030 under UN global agenda.

Gullies and Badlands

Feature	Gullies	Badlands
Definition	Deep, narrow channels formed by erosion, primarily due to water runoff.	Eroded, barren landscapes with steep slopes, often formed by severe water erosion.
Formation	Formed due to concentrated water flow, cutting into the soil and rock over time.	Result from prolonged and intense water erosion, often in regions with weak soil and minimal vegetation.
Size	Smaller channels that can range from a few centimeters to several meters wide.	Larger and more expansive areas with complex features, including cliffs and ravines.
Location	Common in areas with heavy rainfall or where water collects and flows.	Typically found in arid or semi-arid regions with loose or easily erodible soil, like parts of western India.
Impact on Land	Decreases agricultural productivity by washing away fertile topsoil and disrupting drainage.	Reduces land productivity drastically; often unsuitable for agriculture or settlement.
Vegetation	Usually limited vegetation along the sides; surrounding areas may still support crops or grasslands.	Little to no vegetation due to severe erosion; land is often left barren and unproductive.
Rehabilitation	Can be managed through land conservation techniques, like terracing, reforestation, and gully plugging.	Difficult to rehabilitate due to the extensive erosion; requires significant ecological restoration.
Example Locations	Found across India, particularly in regions like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh.	Prominent in areas of central and western India, especially in semi-arid regions like Rajasthan and parts of Madhya Pradesh.

Different types of soil erosion

Type of Soil Erosion	Description	Causes	Impact
Water Erosion	Erosion caused by rainfall and surface runoff that removes soil particles.	Heavy rainfall, poor land management, lack of vegetation cover.	Decreased soil fertility, waterlogging, sedimentation in rivers.
Wind Erosion	Erosion caused by the wind lifting and carrying away loose, dry, and bare soil.	Dry, loose soil, high winds, lack of vegetation.	Loss of topsoil, reduced agricultural productivity, dust storms.
Gully Erosion	Formation of deep channels (gullies) in the landscape due to water runoff.	Intense rainfall, poor land cover, steep slopes.	Loss of productive land, damage to infrastructure, sedimentation in water bodies.
Sheet Erosion	The removal of a thin layer of soil over a large area by rainfall or runoff.	Continuous rainfall, lack of vegetative cover, improper farming practices.	Gradual loss of fertile soil, reduced crop yields.
Rill Erosion	Erosion that forms small, yet visible channels in the soil, but smaller than gullies.	Heavy rainfall, poor drainage, farming on sloped land.	Soil degradation, crop loss, increased risk of flooding.
Plough Erosion	Erosion caused by plowing along the contours or in the wrong direction, which increases soil movement.	Improper plowing methods, loss of vegetation cover.	Soil degradation, loss of organic matter, increased susceptibility to further erosion.
Coastal Erosion	Erosion of soil and land along coastlines due to waves, storms, and sea-level rise.	Coastal development, sea-level rise, storms, and human activity.	Loss of coastal land, damage to infrastructure, threat to coastal ecosystems.

Gully Erosion Management in India

Law/Policy	Objective	Relevance to Gully Erosion
National Action Programme to Combat Desertification (NAPCD)	To combat desertification, land degradation, and drought in alignment with the UNCCD.	Promotes sustainable land management practices, including soil conservation to combat gully erosion.
Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980	Aims to conserve forests by regulating deforestation and promoting afforestation.	Forest cover helps stabilize soil and reduce gully erosion by preventing runoff.
Soil Conservation Act (1953)	Focuses on preventing soil erosion, improving soil fertility, and efficient use of soil.	Provides frameworks for controlling gully erosion through conservation practices like terracing.
Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974	Controls water pollution and ensures the maintenance of water bodies.	Addresses sedimentation and siltation caused by gully erosion in rivers and lakes.
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)	Aims to promote sustainable agriculture and improve soil health.	Supports soil conservation practices that reduce gully erosion, like contour farming.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)	Focuses on enhancing water use efficiency in agriculture.	Encourages erosion control measures, including water management to reduce gully erosion.
National Watershed Management Project (NWMP)	Integrates watershed management for soil and water conservation.	Directly targets gully erosion through watershed management and soil conservation measures.
State-Level Soil and Water Conservation Policies	Formulated by states to address local soil and water conservation needs.	Provides specific measures for gully erosion control, like check dams and reforestation.
The Environment Protection Act, 1986	Provides a framework for environmental protection and conservation.	Empowers the government to take actions that can address the environmental impacts of gully erosion.

Sources:

DOWN TO EARTH

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Evaluate role of India National Action Programme to Combat Desertification in achieving SDG 15. How can India enhance its policies to address land degradation amidst increasing climate variability?