“If we conserve base of pyramid, apex is protected”: Vijay Dhasmana calls for landscape-level conservation of Aravallis
Ecological expert Vijay Dhasmana warns that 21% of Aravalli forest land could be lost by 2059 due to mining and urbanisation.
"If we conserve the base of the pyramid, the apex is protected," warns ecological restoration practitioner Vijay Dhasmana, emphasizing the urgent need for landscape-level conservation of the Aravalli range.
Speaking on the critical state of the mountain range, Dhasmana highlighted that the Aravallis are facing unprecedented pressure from mining, rapid urbanisation, and the continuous loss of forest land. He argues that a piecemeal approach is no longer sufficient; instead, a comprehensive plan that views the entire landscape as a single unit is essential to safeguard its ecological integrity.
A Legacy of Restoration: From Mines to Biodiversity Parks
Dhasmana’s expertise is rooted in the very soil of the Aravallis. Having spent nearly two decades working to restore degraded stretches, he played a pivotal role in the creation of the Aravali Biodiversity Park in Gurugram. The site, which stands as a testament to successful restoration today, was once a scarred landscape of barren hill slopes and degraded forest patches caused by intensive mining and stone-crushing activities in the 1980s.
The tide began to turn following a landmark Supreme Court intervention. "The areas that I work in were a mine site. Stone crushing was happening at one point in time," Dhasmana told ANI. "The Supreme Court of India ordered that no more mining or stone crushing should happen. That land was lying there, needing recovery and healing. We got the opportunity to work with NGOs, the government, the municipality of Gurugram, and the Forest Department to restore these sites."
While the Supreme Court's 2004 and 2009 restrictions brought these issues to the national stage, Dhasmana notes that the Aravallis were largely ignored by the national radar until legal intervention forced the conversation.
The Lifeline of Northwest India
The significance of the Aravalli range extends far beyond its physical presence. It acts as a vital geological feature that shapes the drainage patterns of Northwest India, stretching from Udaipur and Gujarat all the way to Delhi. The range serves several critical functions:
- Water Security: The Aravallis act as massive natural water reservoirs. Rainfall in the range infiltrates the ground, recharging subterranean water levels.
- Biodiversity Hotspots: The forests support a vast array of wildlife and diverse plant species.
- Ecological Security: By managing watersheds and drainage, the range maintains the environmental balance of the entire region.
A Race Against Time: The 2059 Threat
Despite its importance, the range is under siege. Dhasmana identified several primary threats that necessitate a landscape-level strategy:
- Fragmentation: Breaking up the continuous forest cover into isolated patches.
- Urbanisation: The relentless expansion of cities encroaching on natural habitats.
- Land Use Change: The conversion of forest land for other purposes.
- Mining: Continued pressure from extractive industries.
The most alarming aspect of this degradation is the projected timeline. Current projections suggest that 21 per cent of the forest land in the Aravallis could be taken over by the year 2059. This looming loss of forest cover poses a direct threat to the water security and ecological stability of the region.
Dhasmana welcomed the Ministry of Environment and Forest's recent Aravalli conservation plan, calling it a "welcome move." However, he stressed that as the range finally enters the national limelight, the focus must remain on mitigating population pressures and protecting the "base of the pyramid" to ensure the long-term survival of this vital ecosystem.