The Rajasthan government has launched the Aravali Green Development Project, a major initiative to restore the deteriorating Aravali ecosystem and control desertification. The project aims to cover 3,700 hectares across 19 districts along the Aravali range, with an allocation of Rs 250 crore over five years. The initiative involves one year of plantation, followed by one year of maintenance, and will use indigenous and climate-resilient species such as Khejri, Babool, Dhak, Neem, and Ber.
The project is aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Aravali Green Wall Project, which aims to create a natural shield against desertification, dust storms, and soil erosion. The Aravali range is a crucial ecosystem that provides a natural barrier against the advancement of sandstorms from the Thar Desert into the National Capital Region (NCR). The project will help to restore the green cover in the Aravalis, supporting biodiversity and improving groundwater recharge.
The project spans approximately 550 kilometers, covering nearly 80% of the Aravali range in Rajasthan, from Alwar to Sirohi. The plantation will be limited to forest land, excluding areas with human habitation or encroachments. The focus is on long-term sustainability, with the government skipping over degraded or settled lands and concentrating on forest tracts that can be revived effectively.
The project is being carried out under the supervision of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, which will also monitor outcomes through indicators such as flora and fauna recovery, groundwater level changes, and microclimatic shifts. Experts have hailed the project as the largest ecological restoration effort ever undertaken in the Aravalis, but have also cautioned that sustaining the plantations will be critical to achieving any meaningful ecological impact.
The use of native grasses like Sevan and Dhaman for soil stabilization in areas with water scarcity is also a key component of the project. These species are selected not only for their adaptability to varied climates but also for their role in supporting biodiversity and improving groundwater recharge. Overall, the Aravali Green Development Project is a significant step towards restoring the ecological balance of the Aravali range and mitigating the effects of desertification and climate change.