📋 Written Ability Test (WAT)/Essay Analysis Guide

Should Countries Invest More in Reforestation Programs to Combat Desertification?

🌍 Understanding the Topic’s Importance

Reforestation is not just about planting trees; it’s a multi-faceted approach to reversing land degradation, conserving biodiversity, and ensuring food and water security. For B-schools, this theme bridges environmental management with socio-economic challenges.

⏳ Effective Planning and Writing

• Time Allocation:
• Planning: 5 minutes
• Writing: 20 minutes
• Reviewing: 5 minutes
• Structure:
• Introduction: 10% (50 words)
• Body: 75% (375 words)
• Conclusion: 15% (75 words)

✍️ Introduction Techniques

• Contrast Approach: “While countries lose $10 trillion annually to desertification, investing a fraction of this could restore degraded ecosystems and enhance resilience.”
• Timeline Approach: “From the Great Green Wall in Africa to India’s Green Mission, reforestation has evolved into a global movement against land degradation.”

📊 Structuring the Essay Body

• Achievements: “Global reforestation efforts under the Bonn Challenge have restored 63 million hectares, benefiting over 200 million people.”
• Challenges with Comparisons: “Unlike Ethiopia’s success, some countries face resistance due to unclear land rights and high reforestation costs.”
• Future Outlook: “Adopting agroforestry and leveraging carbon credits can incentivize reforestation, making it more economically viable.”

🔍 Concluding Effectively

• Balanced Conclusion: “Reforestation alone is not a panacea for desertification but remains indispensable in a broader strategy integrating water conservation and sustainable land management.”
• Future-Oriented Conclusion: “Investments in reforestation are investments in the planet’s future, ensuring ecological stability and economic resilience.”

💡 Recommendations for Sustainable Progress

• Public-Private Partnerships: Mobilize corporate funding through ESG initiatives.
• Integrated Approaches: Combine reforestation with water management and sustainable agriculture.

📝 Sample Short Essays

• Balanced Perspective: “While reforestation cannot solve desertification on its own, it plays a critical role in restoring degraded ecosystems and supporting livelihoods.”
• Solution-Oriented: “By coupling reforestation with community engagement and technology, countries can accelerate land restoration efforts.”
• Global Comparison: “Countries like Senegal demonstrate the success of reforestation in combating desertification, providing a model for others to follow.”