>Visioncurve at 06:14, 6 May 2021

2021-05-06T06:14:11Z

New page

{{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox park
| name = Aravali Biodiversity Park, Gurgaon
| photo = Aravalli BDPark 2015-01-17-021.jpg
| photo_caption = Aravali Biodiversity Park, Gurgaon trail| map_width = 208
| type = Natural Area
| location = [[Gurgaon]], [[Haryana]]
| nearest_city = [[Gurgaon]]
| coords = {{coord|28.483213|N|77.111888|E|region:IN-HR_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| created = {{Start date|2010}}
| area = 153.7 [[hectare]]s
| operator = Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon and Iamgurgaon
| visitation_num =
| status = Open
| designation =
| open = 5:30 am - 11:00 am and 3:00pm - 6:30 pm (in [[summer]]) 6:00 am - 5:30 pm (in [[winter]])
}}
'''Aravali diversity-bio Park, Gurgaon''', (or Aravalli Biodiversity Park, Gurgaon) spreads over 153.7 [[hectare]]s, near the [[Guru Dronacharya metro station]] in [[Gurgaon]], [[Haryana]], [[India]]. The park, contains [[Ecological restoration|ecologically restored]] and semi arid land vegetation. The park was opened to the public on [[World Environment Day]], 5 June 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://iamgurgaon.org/aravalli-bio-diversity-park/|title=Aravalli Bio Diversity Park – I am Gurgaon|website=iamgurgaon.org|language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-27}}</ref> The park includes a number of trails and a native plant nursery and interpretive displays at the entrance.

== Plant and animal life ==
The natural vegetation of the park falls within the Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest (including ''[[Anogeissus pendula]]'' and ''[[Boswellia]]'' forest edaphic sub-types) and Northern Tropical Thorn Forest types recognised by Champion and Seth.<ref>Champion, Harry G.; Seth, S. K. (1968). ''A revised survey of the forest types of India.'' New Delhi: Manager of Publications, Government of India.</ref> The park has over 300 species of native plants, including a large number of arid region [[lithophyte]]s.<ref name=":0">Dhasmana, Vijay. 2016. [http://www.lajournal.in/Past-49.htm Healing Touch: Aravalli Biodiversity Park, Gurgaon.] ''Journal of Landscape Architecture'' '''49''': 18-25.</ref>

Over 185 bird species are reported from the park, which is an [[eBird]] hotspot.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ebird.org/ebird/india/hotspot/L3127160|title=eBird--Aravalli Biodiversity Park, Gurgaon|last=ebird|website=eBird|language=en|access-date=2017-07-27}}</ref> A recent study found a wide variety of native bird species using the park, with ecologically restored areas showed higher encounter rates of birds than unrestored areas with weeds.<ref>Bansal, Misha. 2017. Evaluating the impact of ecological restoration on the bird community of Aravalli Biodiversity Park, Gurugram. M. Sc. Dissertation, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.</ref> Reptiles like [[Bengal monitor]] and mammals like [[Northern palm squirrel|northern or five-striped palm squirrel]], [[nilgai]], [[golden jackal]], [[Indian hare]], [[Asian palm civet|common palm civet]], and [[Indian grey mongoose]], are found in the park. <gallery>
File:Aravalli BiodivPark Gurgaon DSC9162 long-billed pipit.jpg|Long-billed Pipit
File:Aravalli BiodivPark Gurgaon DSC9078 Black drongo.jpg|Black Drongo
File:Aravalli BiodivPark Gurgaon DSC9051 lesser whitethroat.jpg|Lesser Whitethroat
File:Aravalli BiodivPark Gurgaon DSC9208 steppe eagle.jpg|Steppe Eagle
File:Aravalli BiodivPark Gurgaon DSC9031 we bulbul.JPG|White-eared Bulbul
</gallery>

== Restoration ==
The site where the Aravali Biodiversity Park, Gurgaon, is located had many mining pits operating during the 1980s and 1990s, and also a stone crushing zone with eight active crushers. Mining and stone crushing came to a halt after a Supreme Court ban in 2002, implemented only since 2009. The mining activities and other disturbances had resulted in barren hill slopes, a deep water table, and poor soil cover. The [[remnant natural area|remnant]] forests on the site were highly degraded and invaded by ''[[Prosopis juliflora]]'' (locally known as ''vilayati keekar'' or ''baavlia'').<ref name=":0" />

In 2010, a group of concerned and passionate citizens called 'iamgurgaon',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://iamgurgaon.org/|title=iamgurgaon – Work Together. Make a Difference|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-18}}</ref> consisting of [[Latika Thukral]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/gurgaon/turning-the-city-green-a-million-trees-at-a-time/story-ODUJpCxR3WdvlAVsL2sfhL.html|title=Turning the city green, a million trees at a time|date=2019-03-09|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2020-04-18}}</ref> Swanzal Kak Kapoor, Gayatri Singh and the Late Atal Kapoor took up the initiative of [[Ecological Restoration|ecological restoration]] of the Aravali Biodiversity Park, Gurgaon. They hired ecological restoration practitioner Vijay Dhasmana to restore the damaged landscape in 2011. Thereafter the vision was revised to bring back the original Aravali forest vegetation of the region. Seedlings of about 200 native plant species were raised from seeds collected from remnant natural forests and vegetated areas in Mangar, Nahargarh, and Kumbhalgarh in the [[Aravalli Range]]. Invasive alien species such as ''[[Prosopis juliflora]]'' were carefully removed and native plants of the [[Aravalli Range]] were planted. These included native species such as ''[[Boswellia serrata]]'' (local name: ''salai''), ''[[Sterculia urens]]'' (''kullu''), ''[[Anogeissus pendula]]'' (''dhau''), ''[[Holarrhena pubescens|Holarhenna pubscens]]'' (''indrajao''), ''[[Mitragyna parvifolia]]'' (''kaim''), ''[[Wrightia tinctoria]]'' (''khirni''), ''[[Commiphora wightii]]'' (''guggul''), ''[[Helicteres isora|Helicteris isora]]'' (''marodphali''), ''[[Albizia odoratissima|Albizia odorotissima]]'' (''kala basa''), ''[[Mallotus philippensis]]'' (''sinduri'') and many others. A large part of seedlings planted were watered through [[drip irrigation]]. The Park also maintains a variety of habitats including grasslands and a seasonal pond near an old quarry site.<ref name=":0" /> <gallery>
File:Aravali Biodiversity Park, Gurgaon.jpg|Habitat and sapling with tree guard
File:Planting large saplings at the Aravali Biodiversity Park, Gurgaon.jpg|Saplings being taken for restoration planting
File:BDP020.jpg|Restoration planting
</gallery>

== Native Plants Nursery ==
The native plants nurseries are managed by [http://iamgurgaon.org Iamgurgaon], a local non-profit, that manages the park along with the [http://www.mcg.gov.in Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon]. The nurseries, named Aranya and Vanaja were created in 2011 and 2012, respectively. The seedlings are planted out for ecological restoration of the park area each year during the monsoon. Over 160 native plant species have been raised and planted out in the park.<ref name=":0" />

== Controversies ==
In October 2018, the park came under the spotlight due to a proposed 6 lane highway which would run through the park. Various citizen groups as well as Gurugram residents stood up in support of preserving the park and preventing the highway from being constructed.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/thousands-gather-to-protest-nhais-road-plan-in-aravali-biodiversity-park/articleshow/66407137.cms|title=Thousands gather to protest NHAI’s road plan in Aravali Biodiversity Park}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/citizens-protest-planned-road-through-aravali-biodiversity-park/article25355378.ece|title=Citizens protest planned road through Aravali Biodiversity Park}}</ref>

== See also==
* [[Delhi Ridge]]
* [[Forests Department, Haryana#Leopards|Leopards of Haryana]]
* [[Gurugram leopard and deer safari]]
* [[List of National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries of Haryana, India|National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries of Haryana]]
* [[Biodiversity Park, Visakhapatnam]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Parks in India]]
[[Category:Aravalli Range]]

Aravali Biodiversity Park Gurgaon - Revision history

>Visioncurve at 06:14, 6 May 2021