Aromatic plants based environmental sustainability with special reference to degraded land management

ABSTRACT Land resources are under severe threat to meet its present demand due to unsustainable land use practices worldwide, industrialization, urbanization and pollution. In the present era of limited fertile land, degraded land including polluted and marginal lands are focal to meet the global needs of population. Degraded land restoration and marginal land utilization are vital for economical, environmental and social point of view including all aspects of ecosystem services of present and future. The present technologies for degraded land restoration include costly and unsustainable physical, chemical and biological methods which cannot be imposed without proper technological input. Aromatic crops are in high demand for industries like aroma, food, cosmetic, perfumery, toiletary etc. Certain perennial and annual aromatic crops are adaptable to the harsh environmental conditions of degraded lands. In the present literature, we recommend the adoption of aromatic plants for sustainable management of degraded and marginal lands to achieve the objectives of sustainable development goals (SDGs), boost circular economy and in situ restoration of degraded and marginal lands to achieve various tangible and intangible benefits including ecosystem services.