What is the Sankala Foundation report's main argument about the Aravallis?

The Sankala Foundation report argues that eco-restoration of the Aravalli range is both an ecological imperative and economically prudent, offering significant returns on investment.

What is the Aravalli Green Wall Project?

The Aravalli Green Wall Project is a national initiative to create a five-km-wide green buffer along the Aravalli range, spanning Gujarat to Haryana, using afforestation and conservation methods.

Why has the Supreme Court become involved with the Aravallis?

The Supreme Court has stayed a redefined definition of the Aravalli hills, leading to a focus on eco-restoration efforts and prompting expert committee reviews.

Home / Environment / Eco-Restoration: The High-Value Solution for Aravallis

Eco-Restoration: The High-Value Solution for Aravallis

4 Feb

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Summary

Restoration offers significant economic value, potentially yielding 10x investment.
Aravalli Green Wall Project aims to create a buffer from Gujarat to Haryana.
Court stays Aravalli definition, prompting focus on eco-restoration.

Eco-Restoration: The High-Value Solution for Aravallis

A report released last month by the Sankala Foundation, in partnership with the Haryana government, advocates for the eco-restoration of the Aravalli range. This ecological imperative is also presented as economically prudent, with global assessments showing restoration can yield benefits up to ten times the investment, while inaction could cost more than three times as much.

The report emphasizes that widespread deforestation, mining, and urbanization have degraded the Aravallis, weakening its natural barrier function and accelerating desertification. In response, the central government announced the Aravalli Green Wall Project in 2023, an initiative aimed at creating a five-km-wide green buffer from Porbandar, Gujarat, to Panipat, Haryana.

This project, inaugurated on June 5 last year, involves afforestation with native species, reforestation, and water body rejuvenation. The Sankala report strongly supports this initiative but stresses the need for a connected ecological system approach, warning that fragmented interventions could hinder success.