World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (WDCDD) 2026.

The Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management (CoE-SLM), Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun, organized a National Seminar on 17 June 2026 to commemorate the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (WDCDD) 2026. The global theme for this year, “Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore.”, underscores the critical role of rangelands and pastoral ecosystems in sustaining biodiversity, supporting livelihoods, and maintaining ecological balance.

The observance of WDCDD-2026 highlighted the economic, ecological, and cultural significance of rangelands, emphasised the need to recognise and respect Indigenous and pastoral communities as their traditional stewards, and called for enhanced investments in restoration and sustainable management efforts.

The seminar featured four thematic lectures delivered by eminent experts. Dr. A.K. Shukla, Principal Scientist, ICAR–Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (IGFRI), Jhansi, delivered a lecture on Ecological Significance of Rangelands and Pastoral Systems in India. Dr. Rajkamal Goswami, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru, spoke on Rangeland Degradation and Biodiversity Conservation. Dr. Ranjana Negi, Senior Scientist, ICFRE–Himalayan Forest Research Institute (HFRI), Shimla, shared insights on Restoration of Alpine and High-Altitude Grasslands. Shri Dheeraj Mittal, IFS, Gujarat Forest Department, presented valuable lessons from Banni Grassland Restoration and Community-Based Landscape Management, highlighting the importance of community participation in restoring degraded landscapes and promoting sustainable ecosystem management.

The seminar was attended by officers and scientists from ICFRE Headquarters and its constituent institutes, providing a platform for knowledge exchange and discussions on sustainable rangeland management, ecosystem restoration, and biodiversity conservation.