Context:

• The government has announced the ambitious Aravali Green Wall Project aimed at restoring ecological balance and enhance biodiversity in a region.

Key Points:

• The Aravali Green Wall Project is an ambitious environmental initiative aimed at combating land degradation and desertification in the Aravali Mountain range, which spans across Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Delhi.
• Inspired by successful green initiatives in Saudi Arabia and the African Great Green Wall project, this initiative seeks to restore ecological balance and enhance biodiversity in a region severely impacted by urbanization and mining activities.
• Launched by the Union Environment Ministry, the Aravali Green Wall Project aims to create a 1,400-km-long and 5-km-wide buffer zone around the Aravalis.
• This project will cover approximately 1.15 million hectares across four states, with a focus on reviving degraded land and restoring natural habitats. The first phase of the project will specifically target 35,000 hectares in Haryana, including 18,000 hectares in Gurgaon alone.

Objectives and goals

The primary objectives of the Aravali Green Wall Project include:

• Afforestation: Planting millions of native trees and shrubs to restore green cover.
• Biodiversity Conservation: Enhancing local flora and fauna through habitat restoration.
• Soil health improvement: Implementing practices to improve soil fertility and prevent erosion.
• Water Management: Rejuvenating 75 water bodies across the project area to enhance groundwater recharge and improve soil moisture levels.
• Community engagement: Involving local communities in eco-friendly practices to promote sustainable livelihoods.

Inspiration from Global initiatives

• The project draws significant inspiration from Saudi Arabia's recent successes in transforming arid landscapes into lush green areas. Following a visit to Saudi Arabia, Haryana's Environment Minister emphasized the potential for similar transformations in India. The project also mirrors Africa's Great Green Wall initiative, which aims to restore degraded landscapes across the Sahel region.

Environmental challenges addressed

The Aravalis face numerous environmental challenges due to:

• Urbanization: Rapid development has led to significant loss of greenery.
• Mining activities: Illegal mining has degraded large areas of land.
• Climate Change: Increased temperatures and erratic rainfall patterns have further stressed the ecosystem.

By addressing these challenges through afforestation and water management strategies, the Aravali Green Wall Project aims to mitigate issues such as urban heat islands and enhance carbon sequestration in the region.