17th June: World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed on 17th June every year.
The day is celebrated to raise awareness of the presence of desertification and drought, and highlight methods of preventing desertification and recovering from drought.
The theme for this year’s (2021) observation of the Day is “Restoration. Land. Recovery. We build back better with healthy land”.
According to the United Nations, desertification does not just mean an expansion of existing deserts. It also refers to the overall declining productivity of land due to overexploitation and inappropriate land use by human activity. Poverty, political instability, deforestation, overgrazing, and bad irrigation practices can all lead to desertification and drought.