Haryana aims to rejuvenate 37k hectares of its Aravali region
Gurgaon: Haryana unveiled a comprehensive forest landscape restoration (FLR) initiative on Tuesday to mark World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.
The four Aravali states participated in a workshop in Jodhpur to unveil this plan, which aimed to restore the degraded Aravalis.
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This multi-faceted plan by Haryana aims to rejuvenate 37,017 hectares of its Aravali region, where 69.5% of the degraded area is classified as forest land, followed by 13.2% scrubland and 17.3% degraded agriculture land, according to the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC). The core strategy involves the systematic uprooting of invasive species like Prosopis juliflora, followed by the mixed plantation of indigenous Aravali species.
The initiative aims for the plantation of 1,000 plants per hectare, with three plants per trench. Plus, seeding in patches of Aravali species will be done in equal numbers, and bamboos will be planted in areas with good soil depth where continuous contour trenching is feasible.
The restoration process includes "scattered pit plantation" or "contour trench plantation" on hilly terrains, and the model is based on natural processes, and rainwater will be conserved in situ with indigenous Aravalli and arid region species comprising 25% of the total plants.
"The restoration efforts will be meticulously aligned with existing schemes from multiple ministries, operating under a convergent governance model.
This will involve oversight by district collectors and coordination through inter-departmental committees, ensuring a holistic and integrated approach.
We will be developing strategies for five Aravalis districts for year-long plans. The plan was discussed in Jodhpur today where the nodal officer for Haryana showcased the plan," Haryana's principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) Vineet Kumar Garg, told TOI.
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Joint forest management committees (JFMCs), self-help groups (SHGs), and watershed committees will be a part of the plan with participatory rural appraisals (PRA), detailed mapping exercises, and micro-watershed delineation.
Among the state's Aravali districts, Gurgaon has been worst affected by the environmental crisis, accounting for 13,935 hectares (78.6%) of degraded land, 2,322 hectares (13.1%) of scrub, and 1,464 hectares (8.3%) of degraded agricultural land.
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