Aravalli Protection: Moving Beyond Plantations to a Complete Ecosystem Approach

New Delhi, December 22, 2025 – In a significant push for environmental conservation, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav emphasized today that the protection of the Aravalli Range—one of the world’s oldest geological formations—must move beyond simple tree-planting drives to a holistic focus on ecological restoration.

Speaking to reporters in the Sundarbans after a high-level meeting on wildlife conservation, Yadav clarified the government’s stance on the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding the definition of the Aravallis. He asserted that the ministry’s goal is to protect the entire “ecological web,” which includes native grasses, shrubs, and medicinal plants, rather than just increasing the number of trees.

Ecology vs. Afforestation

Yadav pointed out that while afforestation is a key component, it is not a “magic bullet” for a range as complex as the Aravallis.

“Nature is ecology. In the Aravallis, it’s not just about planting trees around the hills. It’s about the grass, the shrubs, and the specific vegetation that allows the ecosystem to breathe,” Yadav said.

He further linked this to the International Big Cat Alliance, noting that predators like leopards can only thrive if the “prey base” (like deer) is supported by a healthy, underlying system of native grasslands. To support this, the government has already established 29 nurseries across 39 districts to cultivate local species specifically suited for the Aravalli terrain.

Clearing the Air on Mining and Definitions

The Minister addressed the ongoing controversy regarding the new “100-meter rule” for defining Aravalli hills. Critics had expressed concern that this definition would exclude many smaller hillocks from protection, opening them up to mining.

Key Clarifications from the Minister:

• 90% Protected: Under the new Supreme Court-approved definition, more than 90% of the Aravalli region is now officially classified as “protected.”
• No “100-meter” Loophole: Yadav clarified that the 100-meter criterion refers to the elevation of the hill from its base. If two hills are within 500 meters of each other, the entire gap is also protected.
• Mining Restrictions: Currently, mining is eligible in only 0.19% of the 1.44 lakh square kilometer Aravalli area. No new mining leases will be granted until a comprehensive “Management Plan for Sustainable Mining” is finalized by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE).

The Path Ahead: The Green Wall Project

The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the Aravalli Green Wall Project, which aims to create a 1,400 km green corridor to act as a buffer against the eastward expansion of the Thar Desert.

Rather than a “grey zone” of legal ambiguity, the Minister insisted that the new standardized mapping provides the clearest protection the hills have seen since 1985. The government plans to continue using satellite mapping and drone-assisted monitoring to ensure that the “green shield” for the National Capital Region (NCR) remains intact.