Aravalli Range – Overview, Flora & Fauna

The Aravalli Range is a mountain range in western India. It stretches up to 692 kilometers northeast over Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi. It is one of the world’s oldest mountain ranges, stretching back over 2.5 billion years. The Aravalli Range is a significant ecological hotspot due to its rich geological history and diverse flora and fauna. It is rich in marble, granite, and mica minerals and has significantly determined the region’s cultural and economic development.

Let us have an in-depth look into the Aravalli Range.

Aravalli Ranges – Overview

The Aravalli Range is an ancient mountain range in western India that extends about 800 kilometers from southwest to northeast, passing through Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi. Although it’s India’s oldest and most heavily degraded mountain range, it’s also one of the world’s most ancient ranges, with a history dating back over two billion years. It hosts diverse plants and wildlife, including various endangered species and several reptiles. It supplies water to a large part of western India, including the Thar Desert in the northwest. Due to the endangered species and its being the source of fresh water to the region, the Aravalli Range is recognized as an eco-sensitive zone by the Indian government.

Length	800 km
Age	2.5 billion years
States	Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Haryana
Minerals found	copper, zinc, and lead
Fauna	leopards, hyenas, golden jackals, nilgai, peafowls and more
Flora	rose, bougainvillea, hibiscus and more

Aravalli Ranges Map

Aravalli Range Map

Aravalli Ranges – Importance

The Aravalli mountains provide significant fresh water to the neighboring areas. The range is crucial in the monsoon cycle of India and serves to regulate the country’s temperature. It also acts as a barrier, preventing the Thar Desert from creeping into the agricultural regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The range is home to various notable wildlife species and plant species, even a few endangered ones. It is also rich in minerals such as copper, zinc, and lead. There are various hill forts, temples, and other historical structures in this region as well.

Aravalli Ranges – Flora and Fauna

In a 2017 survey by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) covering a 200 square kilometer area across five Haryana districts, 14 species were documented, including leopards, striped hyenas, golden jackals, nilgai, palm civets, wild pigs, rhesus macaques, peafowls, and Indian crested porcupines. This initial survey has inspired the wildlife department to plan a comprehensive study and census of wildlife throughout the entire Aravalli Range, which includes radio collar tracking of wild animals. Notable leopard and hyena habitats can be found along the Ferozpur JhirkaNuh Aravalli range, the Delhi South Ridge (Faridabad-Gurugram), and the Farrukhnagar area on the Delhi-Haryana border, with sightings reported in various villages near the KMP expressway.

The Aravalli Range is characterized by dry deciduous forests. They are dominated by plant species such as dhok, acacia, and neem. These forests also support a variety of flowering plants, including roses, bougainvillea, and hibiscus. The Great Green Wall of India, the Northern Aravalli Leopard and Wildlife Corridor, and the Southern Aravalli Leopard Wildlife Corridor are some of the Wildlife Corridors in this Range.

Aravalli Ranges – Rivers

The Aravalli Range has three significant rivers and their tributaries. These include the Banas and Sahibi rivers, which are affiliated with the Yamuna River, and the Luni River, which ultimately empties into the Rann of Kutch.

Aravalli Ranges – Challenges

Despite its rich biodiversity, the Aravalli Range faces a few challenges that threaten its biodiversity. Although a common threat, deforestation is one of the major challenges to this mountain range. The following are what the Aravalli range faces today:

• Deforestation: Due to the increasing demand for timber deforestation is happening rapidly, which is causing a decrease in wildlife habitat and has increased soil erosion, which in turn can cause water scarcity.
• Overgrazing: Due to an increase in the number of livestock overgrazing has become an issue, which has led to land degradation. Ultimately water scarcity and soil erosion will be the outcome.
• Climate change: The increased temperatures due to climate change can lead to water scarcity and land degradation.
• Pollution: A decrease in water and air quality can be observed due to pollution due to the increasing number of industries in the area.

Aravalli Ranges – Issues

Apart from the problems of deforestation, overgrazing, climate change, and pollution, the Aravalli range is also vulnerable to issues like illegal mining and unplanned urbanization. These issues threaten the surrounding ecosystem and lead to problems like pollution and resource depletion. The following are the issues faced by the Aravalli range:

• Illegal Mining: Extensive damage to the environment is being caused due to illegal mining being done.
• Loss of Biodiversity: Due to deforestation and human activities the flora and fauna count has decreased drastically.
• Human-Wildlife Conflict: The increase in human population is also a threat to the wildlife in these rages.
• Unplanned Urbanization: The unchecked growth of urban areas has adversely affected the environment and wildlife.
• Loss of Water Resources: Due to unchecked development activities the water resources in the area have been severely depleted.
• Unstable Geology: Due to the presence of various faults and fractures there’s an increased risk of landslides and earthquakes in the area.

Role of Judiciary and Other Constitutional Organs

The Supreme Court has played an important role in delivering several landmark decisions concerning the protection of the Aravalli. Constitutional bodies like the MoEF&CC, NGT, NMCG, and NBA are involved with the conservation and protection. They have made the following contributions:

• The Supreme Court directed the Forest Department to create a comprehensive conservation strategy for the Aravalli in the case of MC Mehta vs Union of India. After this, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) issued an order in 2002 prohibiting any further construction activity in the Aravalli.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is in charge of developing conservation policies for the Aravalli. In 2019, the ministry issued a notification designating the Aravalli as a protected area, making it illegal to enter.
• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) also plays an important role in Aravalli conservation. The NGT ordered the Haryana government to remove all illegal development projects in the Aravalli in 2018.
• The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) is in charge of cleaning the range’s dirty waterways, such as the Yamuna and the Ganga. The project uses methods like afforestation and soil conservation to restore and preserve Aravalli’s natural beauty.
• The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) is also critical in preserving the Aravalli.

Aravalli Ranges – Conservation and Preservation

The Aravalli Range is an essential geographical feature in India. They play an important role in the country’s economy and ecology. To ensure the sustainable development of the region, several measures can be taken:

• Improved land use planning: Involving designing strategies to manage land use efficiently and effectively.
• Conservation efforts: Establishing protected areas and implementing measures to reduce human pressure on the environment.
• Sustainable development: Ensuring that the resources of the Aravalli ranges are used sustainably. Promoting eco-tourism and other sustainable practices can be implemented.
• Education and awareness: Educating the people living in the region about the importance of the Aravalli ranges and the steps to be taken to conserve and preserve them.
• Research and monitoring: Conducting research and monitoring activities to understand the impacts of human activities on the environment and identify areas of concern.

Aravalli Ranges – Conclusion

The Aravalli Range is an integral part of the country’s natural heritage. Its rugged terrain, landscapes, and biodiversity provide an unmatched experience for eco-tourism. It is an important source of water and other natural resources like minerals. Despite its importance, the range faces challenges like climate change, deforestation, pollution, and poaching. To preserve the range, conservation measures like sustainable land management and forestry have to be implemented. Consistent efforts should ensure that the Aravalli Range is a vital part of India’s natural heritage in the upcoming years.

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FAQs: Aravalli Range

How old is the Aravalli Range?

The Aravalli Range is about 2.5 billion years old.

How vast is the Aravalli Range?

The Aravalli Range extends over 800 kilometers from Delhi to Gujarat.

Which type of mountain is the Aravalli Range?

The Aravalli Range is a fold mountain range.

Which is the highest peak of the Aravalli Range?

The highest peak of Aravalli is Gurushikhar, located in Mount Abu, Rajasthan. It has an elevation of 1,722 m (5,650 ft).

Which states does the Aravalli Range pass through?

The Aravalli range passes through Rajasthan, Haryana, and Gujarat.