CONTEXT:

• Aravalli Mountain Range is one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, stretching 700 km across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
• The region plays a critical role in:
  • Preventing desertification
  • Supporting biodiversity and wildlife corridors
  • Regulating climate and air quality, especially in Delhi NCR
• In recent decades, the Aravallis have faced intense environmental degradation due to:
  • Illegal mining
  • Rapid urbanisation
  • Deforestation and encroachments

CONCEPT: ARAVALLI GREEN WALL INITIATIVE

• A central government-led initiative aimed at ecological restoration of the Aravalli landscape.
• Objectives:
  • Restore degraded land through afforestation and reforestation.
  • Improve green cover, strengthen wildlife corridors, and enhance air quality.
  • Combat desertification, especially towards the western front adjoining the Thar Desert.
• Key Components:
  • Development of 1,000 nurseries across 29 districts within the Aravalli range.
  • Use of native, drought-resistant, and sustainable plant species.
  • Involvement of local communities and state governments for long-term stewardship.
  • Focus on landscape-level planning using satellite mapping and GIS tools.

CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS (AS OF JUNE 2025):

• PM Narendra Modi to launched the Aravalli Green Wall project on June 5 (World Environment Day) from South Delhi.
• CMs of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat to join regionally.
• Environment Ministry directives:
  • Identify degraded zones.
  • Draft and implement region-specific restoration plans.
• Degraded land distribution:
  • Rajasthan: 81%
  • Gujarat: 15.8%
  • Haryana: 1.7%
  • Delhi: 1.6%
• Benefits expected:
  • Reduction in dust storms and air pollution, especially in Delhi.
  • Strengthening of eco-restoration models for other semi-arid zones.
  • Boost to biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and climate resilience.