Eco-Restoration and Sustainable Development in National Capital Aravalli Region (NCAR)
Aravalli A Natural Treasure
The Aravalli Range, one of the world’s oldest fold mountains, extends over 670 km across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi. Formed during the Proterozoic era, its terrain of ancient quartzite, schist, and gneiss supports diverse landscapes including rocky outcrops, sandy plains, and forested slopes. Ecologically, the Aravallis are a vital wildlife corridor, home to tropical dry deciduous forests with species like Anogeissus pendula and Boswellia serrata, and fauna such as Indian leopards, Nilgai, and endemic reptiles and birds.
Extent of the Aravalli range
Significance
The Aravalli Range serves as a vital ecological barrier and life-supporting landscape for the National Capital Region (NCR) and the Indo-Gangetic plains of India. The range provides crucial ecosystem services—groundwater recharge, air purification, soil stabilization, and carbon sequestration—while also supporting agro-pastoral livelihoods and traditional practices like johad-based water harvesting. The forests mitigate urban heat, reduce air pollution, and hold cultural value through sacred groves and longstanding traditions.
Threats to Aravallis
The Aravalli ecosystem is under severe stress due to illegal mining, deforestation, urbanization, depletion of ground water levels, and unsustainable land use. Expanding cities like Gurgaon, Jaipur, and Ahmedabad have encroached on forested and grazing lands, disrupting hydrological systems and fragmenting habitats. Invasive species like Prosopis juliflora and overgrazing have further degraded the region. Over the past two decades, more than 30% of forest cover in parts of Haryana and Rajasthan has been lost.
Therefore, to restore ecological balance and secure regional sustainability, a comprehensive and integrated baseline assessment is urgently needed. This will support targeted eco-restoration, informed urban planning, and long-term resilience of both human and natural systems in the Aravalli landscape. The present project, led by the Sankala Foundation, seeks to address these challenges through a site-specific, community-inclusive model of ecological restoration in the Aravalli belt of Gurugram district, particularly in the Southern part of the district.
Key Goals
Restoring degraded landscapes
Enhancing
Biodiversity
Promoting Sustainable Development
Strengthening Water Security
Building Climate Resilience
Why Eco-restoration is Matter of Concern
News/ Announcement
Publications
Pilot Plantation Drive Launched in Aravalli Hills
Over 10,000 native saplings were planted across 50 hectares in collaboration with local communities and eco-volunteers as part of the first phase of restoration.
Pilot Plantation Drive Launched in Aravalli Hills
Over 10,000 native saplings were planted across 50 hectares in collaboration with local communities and eco-volunteers as part of the first phase of restoration.
Denmark-India Green Partnership Delegation.
Officials from the Embassy of Denmark and Haryana Forest Department reviewed project progress and discussed sustainable tech integration for ecosystem monitoring.
Drone Mapping of Degraded Areas Completed
Advanced geospatial tools have been used to assess land degradation and plan targeted interventions for ecological restoration.
