Aravali Green Development Project | 12 Aug 2025

Why in News? 

The Rajasthan government has launched the Aravali Green Development Project aimed at ecological restoration and desertification control across 3,700 hectares in 19 districts along the Aravali range.  

Key Points 

• About: The Rs 250 crore project, spanning five years, aims to restore the Aravali ecosystem, combat land degradation and desertification, with the first year focused on plantation and the following year on maintenance. 
  • The project is aligned with the Aravali Green Wall Project, which aims for massive plantations across the Aravalis, from Delhi to Ahmedabad. 
• Geographical Focus: The project spans 19 districts from Alwar to Sirohi, covering approximately 550 kilometers (80% of the Aravali range in Rajasthan). 
• Monitoring and Oversight: The project will be monitored by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change using indicators like flora and fauna recovery, groundwater level changes, and microclimatic shifts. 
• Project Goals: 
  • Restoration of the deteriorating Aravali ecosystem. 
  • Prevention of sandstorms from the Thar Desert reaching the National Capital Region (NCR) serving as an ecological defense mechanism for North India. 
  • Combat soil erosion, desertification, and the adverse impacts of deforestation. 
  • Helps in improving biodiversity, groundwater recharge, and long-term ecological sustainability. 
• Plantation Strategy: 
  • Indigenous and climate-resilient species, including Khejri (state tree), Babool, Dhak, Neem, Ber, and native grasses like Sevan and Dhaman for soil stabilization. 
  • Species chosen for their adaptability to varying climates (dry zones in Sikar to humid areas in Dungarpur and Sirohi). 
  • Plantation will occur exclusively on forest land, avoiding areas with human habitation or encroachments. 
  • Long-term sustainability is emphasized with careful maintenance to ensure the survival of saplings in arid zones like Jaipur and Sikar.