National Workshop in Udaipur Charts Action Plan for Aravalli Restoration

Udaipur: To revive India’s oldest mountain range, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, inaugurated a national-level workshop on the restoration of the Aravalli landscape in Udaipur, Rajasthan. The event, organized jointly by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Rajasthan Forest Department, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders on the eve of the International Day for Biodiversity.

Sanjay Sharma, Rajasthan’s Minister for Forest and Environment, was also present at the inaugural session, which focused on finalizing a Detailed Action Plan for Aravalli Landscape Restoration. The workshop was the culmination of extensive consultations with field-level experts and community practitioners and marks a significant step forward in restoring the ecological integrity of the Aravalli range.

In his address, Yadav recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s launch of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign last year from Delhi Ridge, which is part of the Aravallis. He said the initiative had set the tone for increased public involvement in environmental stewardship. Highlighting the Aravalli Green Wall Project, he said the initiative aims to enhance green cover and biodiversity, restore water bodies, improve soil health, and boost climate resilience across the range—stretching from Delhi to Gujarat—while also generating livelihood opportunities.

The Minister emphasized the need for a “Whole of Government” and “Whole of Society” approach to ensure the success of the programme. He urged the four Aravalli states—Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and Delhi—to adopt innovative and inclusive strategies, combining modern technology with community-driven efforts.

Yadav suggested various approaches for effective restoration, including establishing seedling nurseries in every panchayat under schemes like MNREGA and CAMPA, involving youth and MY Bharat volunteers, and deploying the Green Credit Programme to incentivize eco-restoration activities. He proposed utilizing abandoned mines as water reservoirs and wildlife habitats, developing the landscape for eco-tourism and trekking, removing invasive species, and reintroducing native flora including bamboo. He also called for linking waterbodies like Amrit Sarovars to the restoration programme and involving eco-clubs and the Eco-Task Force in awareness and plantation drives.

He further highlighted the importance of establishing a dedicated research and monitoring framework under institutions like the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), with annual workshops to track progress, share innovations, and address challenges.

The action plan unveiled during the event provides a science-based, community-led, and policy-supported framework for restoring the Aravallis. Its key focus areas include ecological restoration through native plantation and moisture conservation, active community participation, stronger governance and monitoring mechanisms, promotion of sustainable livelihoods like agroforestry and eco-tourism, and the use of advanced technologies such as GIS mapping and remote sensing.

Senior officials including MoEFCC Secretary Tanmay Kumar and Director General of Forests Sushil Kumar Awasthi participated in the workshop along with representatives from the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and Delhi. Technical partners like GIZ-India, scientists, environmental experts, civil society organizations, and community leaders also contributed to the extensive deliberations.