Aravalli bio diversity park

ppt on biodivesity park

1. ARAVALLI BIO DIVERSITY PARK Muskan Rastogi Bpt MRIIRS faridabad

2. INTRODUCTION Aravali Biodiversity Park, Gurgaon , (or Aravalli Biodiversity Park, Gurgaon) spreads over 153.7 hectares, near the Guru Dronacharya metr0 station in Gurgaon, Haryana, India. The park, contains ecologically restored desert and arid land vegetation. The park was opened to the public on World Environment Day, 5 June 2010. The park includes a number of trails and a native plant nursery and interpretive displays at the entrance. Aravalli Biodiversity Park (ABDP), as its name suggests is an endeavor to create a forest garden that celebrates forest flora native to the Aravalli range. We have lost a large part of Aravalli range, its flora and fauna to rampant development and urbanization. The Aravalli Biodiversity Park was once a mining site. The land still has fresh scars of the mining era. ‘ iamgurgaon ’ intends to restore this scarred land into a biodiversity reserve and celebrate the rich flora of the Aravalli Range.

3. The Aravalli Biodiversity Park was declared open by Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on June 5th 2010, on World Environment Day.  Once developed, the Aravalli Biodiversity Park would give the citizens of Gurgaon access to 600 acres of pristine space and connect them to nature. It will be a place for leisure walks, jogging, trekking, bird watching, gardening, contemplation and cultural expression. A pristine natural space where nature and people merge into a beautiful natural landscape…  ABDP started taking baby steps towards the nascent idea of a park. MCG, IAG, HFDC and the NGO Uthaan came forward to plant in this derelict landscape, bereft of any soil cover and infested with an exotic invasive plant, Prosopis juliflora . Indiscriminate, if well-intentioned, planting began, without sparing enough thought for the character of the land.

4. Unique features of park Unlike conventional landscaped parks, the Aravalli Biodiversity Park is unique in that each aspect of its infrastructure has been developed with ecological sustainability as the primary focus – the revival of the forest. In terms of facilities, it has a  3.5 kms walking and 4 kms cycling tracks that have been built along natural contours and existing paths. The walking tracks are of porous concrete to allow water percolation. Two developed seasonal wetlands and  an amphitheatre for cultural activities are other features. The park has one of the most unique Parking lots that demonstrates water conservation The  stone gabion boundary wall was built using small stones sourced from within the site within a metal grid, that minimizes impact on the terrain. Purifies city’s air and recharges groundwater.

5. RESTORATION… why it is necessary? This assessment report was made after the Haryana government had requested the IUCN to conduct a study and suggest ways to conserve the biodiversity of the area. The report said that by 2050, more than 50% of Indian population will be living in cities. As more and more people inhabit urban areas, it will become imperative to bring nature back into urban areas to ensure well-being of the residents, the report said. As the region is in the ‘dark zone’ due to over-exploitation of groundwater, it is important to conserve and preserve the green areas and plant more trees.

6. The Aravalli Biodiversity Park is situated on the northern most part of Aravalli.  Haryana has a substantial part of the Aravalli Range located within its boundaries. Unfortunately, the Aravallis have been exploited the most in Haryana. The forests of Aravalli are very rich in floral diversity and highly ecosensitive. The landscape of the Aravalli Biodiversity Park is hilly, rocky with very little top soil. Native Aravalli species are most suitable for this landscape which is semi-arid and mostly rocky. The significance of a forest in balancing environmental degradation within the context of a highly urbanized city like Gurgaon cannot be over- emphasized!

7. SPECIES FOUND IN PARK S.NO NAME OF SPECIES FOUND SCIENTIFIC NAME 1 Indian Peafowl  Pavo cristatus 2 Gray Francolin  Francolinus pondicerianus 3 Shikra   Accipiter badius 4 Black Kite  Milvus migrans 5 Black-winged Stilt  Himantopus himantopus 6 Red- wattled Lapwing  Vanellus indicus 7 Green Sandpiper  Tringa ochropus 8 Rock Pigeon  Columba livia 9 Eurasian Collared-Dove  Streptopelia decaocto 10 Laughing Dove  Streptopelia senegalensis 11 Spotted Owlet  Athene brama 12 Green Bee-eater  Merops orientalis 13 Rose-ringed Parakeet  Psittacula krameri

8. S.NO. NAME OF SPECIES FOUND SCIENTIFIC NAME 14 Red-vented Bulbul  Pycnonotus cafer 15 White-eared Bulbul  Pycnonotus leucotis 16 Rufous -fronted Prinia   Prinia 17 Purple Sunbird  Cinnyris asiaticus 18 Indian Silverbill   Euodice malabarica 19 European Starling  Sturnus vulgaris 20 Rosy Starling  Pastor roseus 21 Kadamb Mitragyna parvifolia 22 Kulu Sterculia urens 23 Ati bala Abutilon indicum 24 Kardhai Anogeissus pendula 25 Indrajao Holarhena pubscens 26 Karayaja Wrightia tinctoria 27 Salai Boswellia serrata

9. S.NO. NAME OF SPECIES FOUND SCIENTIFIC NAME 28 Babool Vachellia nilotica 29 Guggul Commiphora wrightii 30 Maror phali Helicterius isora 31 Kala siris Albizia odorotissimia 32 Kamala Mallotus philippensis 33 Gangeti Grewia tenax 34 Alaya Mimosa hamata 35 Mohin Lannea coromendelica 36 Bistendu Diosypros cordifolia 37 Gondni Cordia gharaf 38 Katmauli Bauhinia racemosa 39 Neem Azadirachta indica 40 Mahua Madhuca longifolia 41 Tulsi Ocimum tenuiflorum

10. S.NO. NAME OF SPECIES FOUND 42 GECKOS 43 MOTHS 44 BEETLES 45 SKUNKS 46 SAW SCALED VIPER 47 RAT SNAKES COBRAS 48 DAMSELS 49 DRAGONFLIES 50 LIME BUTTERFLY 51 INDIAN FRITILLARY 52 STRIPED TIGER BUTTERFLY 53 GRASS JEWEL BUTTERFLY 54 STRIPPED PALM SQUIRREL 55 CORIDIUS JANUS

11. VILAYTEE KEEKAR: A CASE STUDY The ‘ Vilayatee Keekar ’,  Prosopis juliflora   is one of most invasive exotic species in a large part of the world. Studies have shown that it has decimated native species where ever it was introduced.  It secretes certain compounds from its leaves and roots that kill the native plant species seedlings.  It is not a good habitat for large animals as well as birds. ‘ Vilayatee Keekar ’ was introduced in India by the British to green the Aravali hills. THE STRATEGY TO REMOVE IT:  The main aim is to cut off the Kikar’s food source. The taller native trees cuts off sunlight and the kikar can’t produce their food. It ultimately dies. Holes are made in the kikar’s thick canopy so that the new grown saplings can enjoy sunlight and grow healthily.

12. PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE AREA AND ITS CONTROL MEASURES Invasion of species- vilaytee keekar and its removal Over grazing Fencing of whole area Maintenance cost Less recharge of underground water Vandalism Breaking of facilities Stealing of resources Proper fencing Security should be tightened More rain water harvesting systems should be installed Removal of invasive species Public awareness Nurseries should maintain genetic diversity

13. PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAMMES Every year a plantation season is organized in the park and 200+ species of plants across 400 hectares of area are planted. Citizens of Gurgaon, forest officials , schools and colleges participate enthusiastically. Various census in the park are also organized in which people( generally the citizens are involved) help like bird counts, butterflies, insects. Wildlife and plants diversity People also help in monitoring the state of plants and promote the ideas across the city. All these activities are organized by NGO ‘ iamgurgaon ’ and also funded by them .