India’s first OECM site: Aravalli Biodiversity Park

Context: Aravalli Biodiversity Park was declared India’s first “other effective area-based conservation measures” (OECM) site.

About other effective area-based conservation measures” (OECM) site

• The OECM tag is given by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• The tag is conferred upon areas that have achieved effective in-situ conservation of biodiversity, but are outside protected areas like national parks and sanctuaries.
• The OECM tag does not bring any legal, financial or management implications but designates the area as a biodiversity hotspot on the international map.
• Note: The proposal to declare Aravalli Biodiversity Park an OECM site was sent by the National Biodiversity Authority to the IUCN in 2020.

About Aravalli Biodiversity Park

• The Aravalli Biodiversity Park is located in Gurugram. It has semi-arid vegetation with lots of native plants, trees, shrubs and several species of birds.
• The park was transformed into a city forest from a 40-year-old mining site through the efforts of citizens, ecologists and scientists along with the help of the urban local body of Gurugram.