Gurgaon:
As demand on land from builders, developers and the government on the Aravallis grows in the millennium city, Gurgaon's biodiversity park stands out as an oasis of open space and greenery. Residents of Gurgaon have come together to conserve the park, and their priority is to protect plants in the area.
This piece of land, which is bordering Delhi, was being mined illegally. But four years ago, the government declared it protected area after and appeal from NGO I am Gurgaon. It has since been converted into a forest park.
"This use to be an illegal mining area and has now been made into a jogging and cycling track...this is an example of citizens and government working together," Darshan Singh, CEO, Pan India who is a supporter of the effort, says.
Creating a space that can cater to citizens as well as become a microcosm of Aravalli biodiversity required immense dedication. While walking trails and cycling tracks were created, a nursery was set up to nurture plants and trees native to the Aravallis.
"When we started planting, we realised there was a complete lack of information about native species. The idea is to actually revive the native forest that existed here before the onslaught of mining... we hope people will understand the beauty of our native landscape," says Swanzal Kapoor, who is the member of I am Gurgaon NGO.
The park also fulfils an important role as Gurgaon faces a looming water crisis. Says Vijay Dasmana, a Naturalist who has been fighting to conserve green spaces in Gurgaon, "The way we are developing, we are taking nature for granted... this whole stretch of Aravallis is under severe threat...the Aravallis are the oldest mountains and there is a lot of water in these are catchment areas."