ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur: Erosion Processes and Desertification in the Thar Desert of India

Abstract

In early and mid-twentieth century, there were
speculations and apprehension that the Thar Desert
is spreading towards east and it may cover large fertile
areas of present day Punjab, Haryana, west Uttar
Pradesh and east Rajasthan. Therefore, the
Government of India established a Desert Afforestation
Research Station at Jodhpur, Rajasthan in 1952 mainly
to focus on sand dune stabilization and shelterbelt
plantations to reduce wind erosion. In 1957, it was
reorganized as Desert Afforestation and Soil
Conservation Station. Just after two years (in 1959),
it was restructured as the Central Arid Zone Research
Institute (CAZRI).