Northern Ridge biodiversity park

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Northern Ridge biodiversity park
Northern Ridge biodiversity park
TypeNatural Area
Location North ridge, Delhi Ridge, Delhi
Nearest city Delhi University
Coordinates 28°40′49″N77°12′24″E / 28.6803217°N 77.2065972°E / 28.6803217; 77.2065972
Area87 hectares [1]
Created2015 (2015)
Operated by Delhi Development Authority
StatusOpen

Northern Ridge biodiversity park, [2] in Delhi Ridge of Aravalli range is a 87 hectares biodiversity area in the Northern Ridge (also called Kamla Nehru Ridge or forest) in Delhi, India. [3] [4] [5] [1] It lies in the Northern Aravalli leopard wildlife corridor.

Contents

History

Delhi has more than 7,884 hectares of fragmented forests, which are deprived of wild animals due to the unplanned urbanisation. Of the over 400 wetlands of Delhi, fewer than 3 or 4 major ones existed in 2014. In 2015, Delhi already had Aravalli Biodiversity Park and Yamuna Biodiversity Park. Delhi Development Authority (DDA) engaged the scientists of Delhi University to develop four more biodiversity parks in Delhi, including the Northern ridge biodiversity park (Kamla Nehru Ridge), Tilpath valley biodiversity park, Neelahauz biodiversity park and phase-2 of the Yamuna Biodiversity Park. [5]

Restoration

It was restored in 2014–16 on 87 hectares of Kamla Nehru Ridge (also called Northern Ridge) near Delhi University. [1] [6] The ridge was infested with the invasive species of prosopis juliflora (Vilayati Babul or Kikar of Mexican origin), which were planted in the 1920s by the Britisher colonisers to rehabilitate the wasteland. Prosopis juliflora has caused the depletion of the water table due to its 15-m-deep root system, resulting in the death of 450 native species as well as the biodegradation of the flora and fauna. With the view to reintroduce 5,000 native plant species which existed 150 years ago in the ridge, the Vilayati Kikar was replaced with 15 native plant species in 2014. [7] Additional 3-layered native plant species are being planted. [6]

Flora

Some of the native species being replanted at several Delhi ridges to replace the invasive Vilayati Kikar include mahua, haldu, sheesham, bael, other shrubs and grasses. [7] [8]

Fauna

Several ridges of Delhi are being restored to revive the native species including leopard, Indian rock python, jackals, neelgai, mongooses, porcupines, small Indian civet, gecko, Sirkeer malkoha cuckoo, nightjar, Indian paradise flycatcher. [7] [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Prosopis</i> Genus of legumes

Prosopis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It contains around 45 species of spiny trees and shrubs found in subtropical and tropical regions of the Americas, Africa, Western Asia, and South Asia. They often thrive in arid soil and are resistant to drought, on occasion developing extremely deep root systems. Their wood is usually hard, dense and durable. Their fruits are pods and may contain large amounts of sugar. The generic name means "burdock" in late Latin and originated in the Greek language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aravalli Range</span> Mountain range in western India

The Aravalli Range is a mountain range in Northern-Western India, running approximately 670 km (420 mi) in a south-west direction, starting near Delhi, passing through southern Haryana, Rajasthan, and ending in Ahmedabad Gujarat. The highest peak is Guru Shikhar on Mount Abu at 1,722 m (5,650 ft). The Aravalli Range is arguably the oldest geological feature on Earth, having its origin in the Proterozoic era.

<i>Prosopis juliflora</i> Species of legume

Prosopis juliflora is a shrub or small tree in the family Fabaceae, a kind of mesquite. It is native to Mexico, South America and the Caribbean. It has become established as an invasive weed in Africa, Asia, Australia and elsewhere. It is a contributing factor to continuing transmission of malaria, especially during dry periods when sugar sources from native plants are largely unavailable to mosquitoes.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aravali Biodiversity Park, Gurgaon</span> Biodiversity Park at Gurgaon

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Neela Hauz biodiversity park, located on South Central Delhi Ridge of Aravalli range next to Sanjay Van, in Delhi, India, is a 3.90 hectares mini biodiversity and wetland area along Aruna Asaf Ali Road. It lies in the Northern Aravalli leopard wildlife corridor.

Mangar Bani, a paleolithic archaeological site and sacred grove hill forest next to the Mangar village on Delhi-Haryana border, which is dominated by Gurjar community; is in the South Delhi Ridge of Aravalli mountain range in Faridabad tehsil of Faridabad district in the Indian state of Haryana. It lies, immediate south of India's national capital Delhi, within NCR. This whole area is dominated by Gurjar Community.

References

  1. 1 2 3 DDA biodiversity parks.
  2. "Restoring Delhis environment". The Financial Express. India: The Financial Express. 25 December 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  3. "Tadas Shri Ramdas Chandrabhanji". loksabha.nic.in. India: Lok Sabha, Government of India . Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  4. "L-G suggests creation of green circuit to connect city parks". India Today. India. Press Trust of India. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  5. 1 2 Scientists engaged develop four biodiversity parks, Deccan Herald, 23 August 2015.
  6. 1 2 Government takes steps to restore biodiversity of Kamala Nehru ridge, Mellinium Post, 14 October 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 Two years on, Tilpath Valley Biodiversity Park breathes again, The Times of India, 23 February 2018.
  8. 1 2 Delhi gets its third biodiversity park in Tilpat Valley, Hindustan Times, 3 February 2018.