Detailed study of 7 biodiversity Parks of Delhi. Namely Yamnuna, Aravali, Tughlaqabad, Kamla Nehru, Tilapath, South Biodiversity Parks. Contributed by Yash Sakhuja, Chandni Kalyani, Anandita Doda, Harshit Kapoor and Srivatsa. Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi.

1. Environmental Science Assignment
on
“BIODIVERSITY PARKS OF DELHI”
Group F
Presented By:- Anandita(238), Chandni(196), Harshit(102), Nitika(212),Srivatsa(124),Yash(150)

2. What are Biodiversity Parks?
Biodiversity is the shortened form of two words "biological" and "diversity". It
refers to all the variety of life that can be found on Earth (plants, animals, fungi and
micro-organisms) as well as to the communities that they form and the habitats in
which they live.
India is the body and Delhi its life. There are two reasons behind Delhi being
chosen as the Capital of India namely, water security and forest ecosystem.
Yamuna the fifth longest river contributed to the water security. Aravali
ecosystem surpassing the dinosaur age contributed towards the forest
ecosystems thereby giving much importance to Delhi since the ancient times.
Delhi was very diversified but owing to Rajasthan winds the vegetation began
to deteriorate. Britishers then thought of introducing new vegetation. As a part
of their efforts they went to Mexico and bought Mexican mesequet (Prospous
Julie Flora) also known as Mexico Vilayti Keekad.

3. In situ and Ex situ Conservation: In situ and Ex situ, both are the method of
conservation. The basic difference between in situ and ex situ lies on the
habitat place where the process is carried out.
1. In situ Conservation is one of the methods of the conservation of genetic
resources in natural populations of plant or animal species.
2. Ex situ Conservation is one of the methods of the conservation of living organism
outside their natural habitat through genetic conservation.
What are Biodiversity Parks- In situ or Ex situ Conservation?
Biodiversity parks are a combination of both In situ and Ex situ Conservation
as they involve conservation of plant and wildlife at both the places where
they are naturally found and as well as places outside their natural habitat
through genetic conservation

4. Keekad is the kind of tree which surrounds itself by it’s own species. It is also known as
terror tree because it soaks water underneath upto around 30 meters. When these trees
were planted in the Aravalli range in Delhi the natural species growing there vanished and
these terror trees soaked all the underground water and flourished thereby covering 70- 80
percent of all the vegetation cover of Delhi.
CR Babu, a professor in Delhi University researched on the topic and found that it had
become necessary to get our old and basic vegetation back. The terror trees had a problem
that they couldn’t be grown in saudic soil thus in an attempt to regain vegetation they
started growing hardy grass in the area- Sweda footi Cauza which soaks all the saline water
and thereafter started to plant other species. When the other
species began to grow after a time they became so long as to cover the sun and as a result
the terror trees couldn’t grow much owing to their requirement for sun. Thus the first
biodiversity park was the Yamuna Biodiversity Park which harbours a wide range of
ecosystems.
Owing to the efforts of the scientists, government and citizens we have come a long way.
Numerous varieties of plants and animals have been discovered after the creation of
Yamuna Biodiversity Park . Red crested pokyat , Night harols, painted starbirds, Indian hire,
leopards, babul, Ishari, wetland grasses, serum munjhila, tifa are few of the many varieties of
wildlife species found there. Peshu, Hali and Dodhi are the magnificent bird species found
there. Dodhi is also the ancient refrigeratory system. When one cuts Dodhi's leaves a certain

6. LOCATION: Yamuna biodiversity park located on Yamuna river front is a
9770 hectares biodiversity area in Delhi, India .It was developed by the Delhi
Development Authority (DDA) with the technical help of Centre for
Environment Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE),
University of Delhi.
RESTORATION: The Yamuna Biodiversity Park was developed in two
phases in two different areas- on the inactive floodplain of the river in
Phase 1 and on the active food plains in Phase 2. Once this area was
acquired in the hear 2002,it was found that the soil was highly alkaline and
nutrient impoverished. Many species of grasses such as Leptochloa fusca,
Vetiveria zizanoides, Bothriochloa species were utilized not just to increase
the nutrient levels but also to initiate microbial activities in the soil. Afterwards
, plantation of seedlings of different forest species representing upper,
middle and lower canopies was done each year during the monsoons. In
addition, landscaping was also done in a few areas by creating mounds of

7. FLORA: The conservatory of medicinal plants consists of over 300 plant species
known to have therapeutic values. Some of the most important herbs planted here
are ashwangandha (Withania somnifera), artimisia, sarpagandha (Rauwolfia
serpentine), nirgundi (Vitex negundo) and isabgol (Plantago major). A climber grove
was also created here for climbers of medicinal importance such as dama bel ,
gurmar , antmool, A small lily pond in the medicinal garden houses aquatic plants
such as brahmi and bach . The sacred grove houses plant species which have
some religious significance. The conservatory of fruit plants, as the name suggests,
has plant species that are specially grown in the Yamuna river basin for their fruits.
The fruit plants are pomegranate, amla, cheeku, mulberry, kaith etc.
FAUNA: Birds such as green pigeons, peafowls, bulbuls and parakeets have
carved their niches in this conservatory. These wetlands also receive flocks of
migratory birds (around 5000) from Siberia and other Palearctic regions every year.
Some notable species are the Red-crested Pochard, Northern Shovellor, Eurasian
Wigeon, Gadwall etc. The diversity of birds has shown a remarkable increase with
specie numbers having risen from 37 to 196 since 2002, while reptiles have

9. LOCATION: The Aravali Biodiversity Park is situated on the northern most
part of Aravali. Aravali Biodiversity Park, as its name suggests is an
endeavour to create a forest garden that celebrates forest flora native to the
Aravali range. Once a mining site, it is being restored to a native flora
garden.
It is a joint venture of IAMGURGAON and the Municipal Corporation of
Gurgaon.
PRESERVATION: Haryana has a substantial part of the Aravali Range
located within its boundaries. Unfortunately, the Aravalis have been exploited
the most in Haryana. The forests of Aravali are very rich in floral diversity and
highly ecosensitive.
The landscape of the Aravali Biodiversity Park is hilly, rocky with very little
top soil. Native Aravali species are most suitable for this landscape which is
semi-arid and mostly rocky. The significance of a forest in balancing

10. FLORA: There are native plant experts and naturalists who suggest
them the native Aravali plant species best suited to the sub-habitats
within the park. There about 200 species of plants (trees, shrubs,
herbs and climbers) that are found in the forests of Northern Aravalis.
Some of the spectacular ones are Boswellia serrata (Salai), Sterculia
urens (Kullu), Mitragyna parvifolia (Kaim), Lannea coromendelica
(Gurjan), Anogeissus pendula (Dhau), Diosypros cordifolia
(Bistendu), Cordia garaf (Gundi), Albizzia odorotissima (Kala SIras)
and Bauhinia racemosa (Jhinjheri).
FAUNA: They are home to several native species including leopard,
Indian rock python, jackals, neelgai, mongooses, porcupines, small
Indian civet, gecko, Sirkeer malkoha cuckoo, nightjar, Indian paradise
flycatcher. By 2016, the lake was home to over 70 bird species, including

12. Introduction: Tughlaqabad Fort is a ruined fort in Delhi,
built by Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, the founder of Tughlaq
dynasty, of the Delhi Sultanate of India in 1321, as he
established the fourth historic city of Delhi, which was later
abandoned in 1327. It lends its name to the nearby
Tughlaqabad residential-commercial area as well as the
Tughlaqabad Institutional Area. Tughlaq also built Qutub-
Badarpur Road, which connected the new city to
the Grand Trunk Road. The road is now known
as Mehrauli-Badarpur RoadThe entry fee for the Fort is Rs.
20 for Indians.Also, nearby is Dr. Karni Singh Shooting
Range and Okhla Industrial Area.

13. Restoration: In 2015, Delhi High Court had pulled up DDA for failing
to clean up Tughlakabd lake and suggested that since DDA had done
good job in maintaining the wetlands in Yamuna Biodiversity Park, the
same could be replicated here. In January 2016, the court had directed
DDA to provide an expert body’s recommendations to convert the
forested district park and the lake near Tughlakabad Fort into a
biodiversity park so that an action plan can be formulated. A bench
headed by justices BD Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva issued the
direction as it felt the local authorities were taking the issue “too lightly”
and the expert panels proposal was “encouraging.”A DDA
spokesperson said that the selected sites are home to several species
of flora and fauna that are on the verge of extinction. After testing the
soil conditions, DDA tried to revive the flora and fauna. According to
initial plans, DDA will develop a three-level food chain system —
plants, herbivorous and carnivorous animals to maintain a balance of

14. Flora and Fauna: Flora and Fauna:Aquatic vegetation,
including phytoand zoo- plankton will be introduced. Fish
that consume algae, floating root mats, water lilies and
other macrophytes will be introduced after the water is
treated.There is also a proposal to develop a butterfly
corner within a recreation park and herbal garden. A
peripheral bamboo thicket with 10 species will be
developed all along the Maa Anandmai Marg and also on
south and north corners of the area to act as a noise
barrier and dust trapper. Greenways with walkways will be
developed all along the Fort wall.

16. LOCATION: Neela Hauz biodiversity park located on South Central
Delhi Ridge of Aravalli range next to Sanjay Van, in Delhi, India, is a
3.90 hectares mini biodiversity and wetland area along Aruna Asaf Ali
Road. It lies in the Northern Aravalli leopard wildlife corridor.
RESTORATION: In 2015, the Delhi Development Authority
commenced the work to restore this as a biodiversity area.Lake was
desilted, its banks landscaped, water supply was restored with the
treated water from the Wastewater Treatment Plant, and native
species of plants were reintroduced in 10 acres of the land
surrounding the lake.To improve the water quality before water enters
the lake, the Constructed Wetland System (CWS) consists of zero
energy input physical and biological processes, including 2 oxidation
points and 4 filtration ponds/channels.

17. FLORA: 15,000 native plants and shrubs of 75 species from 6
bio communities were planted in 2015-16. Slopes were
stabilised by planting the grasses, such as chrysopogon,
heteropogon and cenchrus ciliaris. Wetland has restocked
with the phytoplankton, zooplankton, free floating and rooted
aquatic plant.
FAUNA: They are home to several native species including
leopard, Indian rock python, jackals, neelgai, mongooses,
porcupines, small Indian civet, gecko, Sirkeer malkoha
cuckoo, nightjar, Indian paradise flycatcher. By 2016, the
lake was home to over 70 bird species, including migratory

19. LOCATION: Northern Ridge biodiversity park, in Delhi Ridge of Aravalli
range is a 87 hectares biodiversity area in the Northern Ridge (also
called Kamla Nehru Ridge) in Delhi, India. It lies in the Northern Aravalli
leopard wildlife corridor.
RESTORATION: It was restored in 2014–16 on 87 hectares of Kamla
Nehru Ridge (also called Northern Ridge) near Delhi University.The ridge
was infested with the invasive species of prosopis juliflora (Vilayati Babul
or Kikar of Mexican origin), which were planted in the 1920s by the
Britisher colonisers to rehabilitate the wasteland. Prosopis juliflora has
caused the depletion of the water table due to its 15-m-deep root
system, resulting in the death of 450 native species as well as the
biodegradation of the flora and fauna. With the view to reintroduce 5,000
native plant species which existed 150 years ago in the ridge, the Vilayati
Kikar was replaced with 15 native plant species in 2014.Additional 3-

20. Flora: Some of the native species being replanted at several
Delhi ridges to replace the invasive Vilayati Kikar include
mahua, haldu, sheesham, bael, other shrubs and grasses.
Fauna: Several ridges of Delhi are being restored to revive the
native species including leopard, Indian rock python, jackals,
neelgai, mongooses, porcupines, small Indian civet, gecko,
Sirkeer malkoha cuckoo, nightjar, Indian paradise
flycatcher.

22. LOCATION: Tilpath Valley Biodiversity Park, is a 172 acre
biodiversity area in the South Delhi Ridge within the Northern
Aravalli leopard wildlife corridor, northwest of Asola Bhatti Wildlife
Sanctuary, south of Sainik Farm.
RESTORATION: Previously this area had the valleys dotted with
sand-mined quarries, dried up springs due to lack of recharging
of groundwater, no forest cover except the invasive weed species
of prosopis juliflora (vilayati kikar), lantana and parthenium. During
the restoration, invasive foreign species were replaced with the three
layers of forest community: native trees, shrubs and grassland.
Scrubland was restored to attract the reptiles and birds. In 2015,
40,000 volunteers planted over 100,000 trees within 6 hours. In
2016, 20,000 trees were planted by the volunteers .

23. Flora: The park now has the grasslands, hilly terrain with over
105 trees and shrubs species. Native species include
mahua, haldu, sheesham and bael.
Fauna: In 2016, the park was teeming with over 103 bird
species, 32 butterflies species, 15 herpetofauna (reptiles
and amphibians) species and 8 mammalian species
including leopard, Indian rock python, jackals, neelgai.

25. Currently, Delhi has six biodiversity parks that include the Kamla
Nehru Ridge (Civil Lines), Yamuna biodiversity park (Wazirabad),
Aravali Biodiversity park (Vasant Vihar), Tilpath Valley and one
that is located right behind Tughlakabad Fort and the Neela Hauz
lake.The capital is all set to get South Biodiversity, marking its
seventh biodiversity park. While the primary aim of the initiative is to
remove the water hyacinths from the river and thereby improve the
water quality, this further marks a new milestone as it is the first time
that a constructed wetland system is set to be built on a river. Once
successful, this model can be replicated for other rivers as well.
Located right next to the DND flyway, the South Biodiversity park
has recently been approved of by the Delhi Development Authority,
which owns the land and has allocated around two crore rupees for
development of the biodiversity park on the Yamuna floodplain over
the next five years.Led by ecologist CR Babu, a team of scientists is

26. A model that may be similar to Delhi’s Neela Hauz is currently
underway. However, for developing Delhi’ s 7th biodiversity park,
the challenges are several.For instance, the site is currently a
dumping area for construction debris. Worse, it is an open defecation
ground for nearby slum dwellers as the open discharge of sewage
from colonies from across the Ring Road present problems related to
public health and hygiene.Developing biodiversity parks are essential
to the changing dynamics of the Indian city landscape. Rapid
urbanization, high levels of population and the excessive
exploitation of natural resources are eroding the diversity of the
flora and fauna of most rivers in the country today. To restore the lost
regional diversity within growing cities and urban areas, there is an
urgent need to create a healthy ecosystem and the creation of more
biodiversity parks in the region are a step forward in the right

27. 1. https://dda.org.in/greens/biodiv/yamuna-biodiversity-park.html
2. https://dda.org.in/greens/biodiv/aravalli-biodiversity-park.html
3. https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/travel-tourism/delhis-7th-biodiversity-park-
can-be-a-game-changer-for-other-rivers-in-the-country/1547581/
4. https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/once-a-dumping-ground-neela-
hauz-now-a-soothing-site-119051700243_1.html
5. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/two-years-on-tilpath-valley-biodiversity-
park-breathes-again/articleshow/63035604.cms
6. http://delhigreens.com/2017/06/04/tughlaqabad-biodiversity-park-celebrate-first-
environment-day/
7. https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2019/sep/10/a-wealth-of-biodiversity-in-
delhis-own-backyard-2031497.html
Note:- We would also like to thank Bhushan Sir of our college’s Enviromental
Science department for his able guidance.