What are the environmental implications of the reclamation of the water bodies into urban land use? Explain with examples.

Theme

T40 Desertification, land degradation & land-use change

What UPSC asks in this theme

Questions ask about desertification across climate zones, aeolian processes, drivers of land-use change, and reclamation of water bodies for urban use.

What to cover

• Desertification causes: overgrazing, deforestation, salinity, climate
• Aeolian processes
• Land-use change drivers: urbanisation, agriculture, mining
• Reclamation of wetlands for urban use and its effects (floods, heat)
• UNCCD, land degradation neutrality

Writing the answer

• Use examples beyond deserts to show desertification has no climate boundary

These notes are for the whole theme, built from all 4 of its PYQs. UPSC does not publish model answers.