The Aravalli Green Wall Project is all set to launch on June 5. This project, backed by the government, will focus on large-scale reforestation by planting native species, especially in the reserved forest areas. Read on to know more about this project in detail.
A Mountain Range That Houses 22 Wildlife Sanctuaries
One of India’s oldest mountain ranges, the Aravallis spans over 670 km and runs a long stretch from Delhi to Gujarat. As per Hindustan Times, it has around 22 wildlife sanctuaries, which also include Ranthambore and several bird parks. Not only that, Aravalli is also the source of many important rivers, including the Chambal. Moreover, the Aravalli Hills are home to the only primary forest in the National Capital Region. But as fate would have it, this range has been through a lot of damage due to deforestation, mining and climate change. The newly launched Green Wall Project is all set to begin on World Environment Day, June 5. As per the report in Hindustan Times, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to launch the Aravalli Green Wall Project along with the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2025” campaign by planting saplings at Mahavir Jayanti Park in Delhi.
What Is The Green Wall Project?
As per Hindustan Times, the Green Wall Project includes a large-scale landscape restoration. The campaign will also include the removal of “prosopis”, a plant considered harmful to native species. The project aims to plant native species like khair (Indian gum arabic), ronjh (white-barked acacia), philkhan (white fig), and more in the reserved forest areas of the range.
This Aravalli Green Wall Project might help restore the lost trees, plantations and wildlife in the range. Destroyed by urbanisation and climate change, this significant place has lost a lot of its natural charm. As per HT, surveys by the Wildlife Institute of India (WWI) have revealed the presence of at least 10 mammal species in the Aravalli range. This includes leopards, striped hyenas, golden jackals, Indian foxes, jungle cats, mongooses, Indian hares, Indian civets and more.
The Green Wall Project also aims to create a wildlife corridor to allow these animals to move freely across the area. According to the report in HT, Aravallis have over 300 species of birds, including some uncommon ones. The project also proposes to establish a buffer zone covering 6.45 million hectares around the Aravalli range. The restoration plan will focus on restoring greenlands, livestock and improving the water system. As per HT, the project will have two phases: the first priority would be to restore forest areas with vegetation degradation, followed by areas affected by water erosion.
A Much-Needed Step To Make The Aravalli Range Green Again
As per HT, this project has been in talks since the 1990s but was never officially formalised. Mining, construction and encroachment have damaged aquifers, dried up lakes, and reduced the range’s ability to support wildlife. Bilal Habib, scientist at the Wildlife Institute of India, has stated that the Aravallis are among the oldest mountain ranges in the world. And, the government is keen to develop them as a “green wall” against desertification, as per HT.
We can all agree that this is a much-needed step to restore greenery and wildlife in the Aravallis. As per HT, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta is also expected to join the PM during the launch on June 5.
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons/TeshTesh
For more such snackable content, interesting discoveries and the latest updates on food, travel and experiences in your city, download the Curly Tales App. Download HERE. First Published: June 04, 2025 4:13 PM