Ecosystem Restoration through Landscape Resource Conservation: Lessons Learned from Central India

This policy brief highlights the outcomes and lessons learned from a landscape restoration initiative focused on dryland management in Central India’s Bundelkhand region. Through integrated and participatory resource management, anchored in the restoration of traditional rainwater harvesting systems...

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Main Authors: Anantha, K.H., Singh, Ramesh, Venkataradha, A., Garg, K.K., Ram, Asha, Harawa, Rebbie, Jat, Mangi L.
Format: Brief
Language:Inglés
Published: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177938
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author Anantha, K.H.
Singh, Ramesh
Venkataradha, A.
Garg, K.K.
Ram, Asha
Harawa, Rebbie
Jat, Mangi L.
author_browse Anantha, K.H.
Garg, K.K.
Harawa, Rebbie
Jat, Mangi L.
Ram, Asha
Singh, Ramesh
Venkataradha, A.
author_facet Anantha, K.H.
Singh, Ramesh
Venkataradha, A.
Garg, K.K.
Ram, Asha
Harawa, Rebbie
Jat, Mangi L.
author_sort Anantha, K.H.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This policy brief highlights the outcomes and lessons learned from a landscape restoration initiative focused on dryland management in Central India’s Bundelkhand region. Through integrated and participatory resource management, anchored in the restoration of traditional rainwater harvesting systems and scientific monitoring, the project achieved significant improvements in groundwater recharge, cropping intensity, and rural livelihoods. A key innovation was the revival of the traditional haveli system, which had fallen into disrepair. Introducing an innovative masonry core wall concept and safe water discharge outlets, the restored havelis not only enhanced groundwater recharge but also strengthened a range of ecosystem services and supported productive post-monsoon agriculture, revitalizing previously abandoned lands. The Bundelkhand experience demonstrates that science based, community-driven approaches can address the major challenges of land degradation, water scarcity, and rural poverty in India’s dryland regions. The project calls for scaling similar models nationwide through coordinated, dedicated-funding, and evidence-driven policies. Such efforts would advance the country’s goals for climate adaptation, land degradation neutrality, water security, and rural prosperity.
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language Inglés
publishDate 2025
publishDateRange 2025
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publisherStr International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics
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spelling CGSpace1779382025-11-15T02:10:21Z Ecosystem Restoration through Landscape Resource Conservation: Lessons Learned from Central India Anantha, K.H. Singh, Ramesh Venkataradha, A. Garg, K.K. Ram, Asha Harawa, Rebbie Jat, Mangi L. water management land degradation climate change adaptation rural development livelihoods This policy brief highlights the outcomes and lessons learned from a landscape restoration initiative focused on dryland management in Central India’s Bundelkhand region. Through integrated and participatory resource management, anchored in the restoration of traditional rainwater harvesting systems and scientific monitoring, the project achieved significant improvements in groundwater recharge, cropping intensity, and rural livelihoods. A key innovation was the revival of the traditional haveli system, which had fallen into disrepair. Introducing an innovative masonry core wall concept and safe water discharge outlets, the restored havelis not only enhanced groundwater recharge but also strengthened a range of ecosystem services and supported productive post-monsoon agriculture, revitalizing previously abandoned lands. The Bundelkhand experience demonstrates that science based, community-driven approaches can address the major challenges of land degradation, water scarcity, and rural poverty in India’s dryland regions. The project calls for scaling similar models nationwide through coordinated, dedicated-funding, and evidence-driven policies. Such efforts would advance the country’s goals for climate adaptation, land degradation neutrality, water security, and rural prosperity. 2025-10-30 2025-11-14T20:33:02Z 2025-11-14T20:33:02Z Brief https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177938 en Open Access application/pdf International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics Anantha, K.H.; Singh, R., Garg, K.K., Radha, V., Ram, A., Harawa, R. and Jat, M.L. 2025. Ecosystem Restoration through Landscape Resource Conservation: Lessons Learned from Central India. Policy Brief. Patancheru, India: ICRISAT.
spellingShingle water management
land degradation
climate change adaptation
rural development
livelihoods
Anantha, K.H.
Singh, Ramesh
Venkataradha, A.
Garg, K.K.
Ram, Asha
Harawa, Rebbie
Jat, Mangi L.
Ecosystem Restoration through Landscape Resource Conservation: Lessons Learned from Central India
title Ecosystem Restoration through Landscape Resource Conservation: Lessons Learned from Central India
title_full Ecosystem Restoration through Landscape Resource Conservation: Lessons Learned from Central India
title_fullStr Ecosystem Restoration through Landscape Resource Conservation: Lessons Learned from Central India
title_full_unstemmed Ecosystem Restoration through Landscape Resource Conservation: Lessons Learned from Central India
title_short Ecosystem Restoration through Landscape Resource Conservation: Lessons Learned from Central India
title_sort ecosystem restoration through landscape resource conservation lessons learned from central india
topic water management
land degradation
climate change adaptation
rural development
livelihoods
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177938
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