Union Minister Bhupender Yadav stated at the UN conference that India has restored nearly 22 million hectares of degraded and deforested land between 2011 and 2020. This figure differs from the target of 26 million hectares set for 2030.
Speaking at the 17th session (CO) of the UN Conference to Combat Desertification in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, he also called for ensuring 'diversified, adequate, predictable, and sustainable international financing' for land restoration and drought resilience. He emphasized that such measures should be viewed not as expenses, but as investments in food, water, biodiversity, livelihoods, and long-term sustainability.
Highlighting that the country's restoration efforts led to the creation of approximately 1.2 billion human-days of employment during 2011–2020, he noted that this data proves the capacity of restoration to yield both ecological and socio-economic results, revitalizing degraded landscapes and supporting agriculture through job creation.