Land Scape

Delhi is spread over an area of 1497 sq. km, it is one of the greenest metros in the country. The city has
experienced tremendous growth in the recent times, with increased pressure on its open spaces. Delhi
Development Authority (DDA), the first Urban Development Authority in India, has played a key role in overall
development and management of its green spaces, with conscious efforts towards the development of open
spaces as Regional parks, District parks, Green Belts and Neighbourhood greens etc. with many small and big
parks under its jurisdiction, DDA has kept its commitment of upgradation and maintenance of green areas,
which form the lungs of the city; with its recent efforts towards development of Bio-diversity parks, river front
development, reclamation of sanitary landfill sites and rejuvenation of water bodies and revival of lakes.

Designing and policy decision related to Regional Parks as per norms laid down in the Master Plan.
Designing of all the District Parks under the jurisdiction of DDA, along with Neighborhood Parks, Playfields,
Children Parks.
Special projects like Bio-diversity Parks, River Front Development, Reclamation of sanitary landfill sites-
Indraprastha Park, Aastha Kunj and Heritage projects like Tughlaqabad have also been taken up by the DDA.
The concept of water harvesting and conservation of rainwater, recharging of groundwater aquifers is an
integral part of planning of various Greens.
In the process of designing and upgradation of green areas, efforts have been put to incorporate design
features for differently abled people. DDA has considered and has been able to integrate such special features
in their landscape design. These design features are introduced in entrance plaza, kids play area, sitting area
and pathways. For example, entrance Plaza of Millennium Park provides ramps for the ease of access to all
people with special needs.

The new wave of using eco-friendly concepts and materials in DDA greens has been materialized by installing
bamboo shelters in Reserve forests, Regional parks and protected forests.
Toilets and dustbins were installed in the parks and playfields in the Swachh Bharat Program.
The introduction of open gym concept has been initiated for a better public health in parks.
Children play equipment has been proposed with fiber glass material for safety purpose.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Documentation for Review of Environment Chapter of MPD 2021.
Documentation of Formulation of Mandate of UCCRY and final notification of UCCRY.
Modification of terms and conditions of the policy ‘Adoption of Park’ Scheme.
Promoting artwork in DDA parks with external expert members.
Promoting Green Delhi Clean Delhi concept in parks.

Greens
The total area of Delhi State is 1,48,639 hec., with 4,777 ha. under urban cover.
Even as the green areas in Delhi are managed by different agencies, DDA has the largest role to play with over
5050 ha. under its jurisdiction.
The green cover area in Delhi is 19 percent of the total area, which is much larger than in other cities and
makes Delhi one of the greenest cities.
DDA has done exemplary work in protecting Delhi's natural environment on the ridge and on the Yamuna
River Front. It has maintained the green gardens around historic monuments. It has created a network of
innumerable parks and playfields that purify the environment and give joy to the city of Delhi.
Above all, DDA has turned wastelands into beautiful manicured parks, reclaiming for Delhi the title of "City of
Gardens".
DDA has taken the initiative to secure a greener and cleaner Delhi and is balancing the inexorable expansion of
the city by tree plantation and the laying of parks and gardens.
Achievements

Constituted in the year 1957 as the first development authority in the country with no role model to follow, in
the last four decades and a half there have been proud milestones and achievements in DDA's journey.
In 1962 DDA formulated the 1st Master Plan for the planned growth and development of Delhi.
DDA extensively revised the 1st Master Plan and a comprehensive Master Plan with perspective up to 2001
adopted in 1990.
Draft Master Plan for Delhi 2021 was finalized and approved by the Authority and also by Central Government
Master Plan-2021for publication of notification in Gazette of India alongwith land use plan for inviting
objections and suggestions from the public.
The objections/suggestions thus received would be studied and analysed for incorporating the same, if viable,
in the final Master plan for Delhi 2021

Lands
DDA has acquired 69907.50 acres of land and developed it for residential, recreational, industrial, commercial
and institutional purposes.
DDA has constructed, or facilitated construction of more than 10.65 lakh dwelling units hereby ensuring
shelter for more than half of the population of Delhi.
DDA planned and created the infrastructure for the IX Asian Games including a shooting range,a stadium of
international standards and the integrated Asian Games Village containing 853 dwelling units.
Commercial ComplexDDA has given to Delhi city modern, well-laid-out shopping-office complexes that have
been created in 9 district centers, 36 commercial centers, 134 local shopping centers and
440 convenient shopping centres all over Delhi.
DDA has developed as many as 22 industrial estates having 12000 units. The Authority has also allotted
thousands of institutional plots.
District centers, community centers, local shopping centers and other commercial areas planned and created
by the DDA are a beehive of Flyovers economic activity, creating wealth and generating
employment all over the city.
To streamline growing flow of traffic, DDA has
-created planned infrastructure, including strategic fly-overs. Pleasant results are clearly visible.
-Heritage Sites DDA has instituted Urban Heritage Award for maintenance and upkeep of old buildings that are
more than 50 years old, still in use and not listed as monuments.
-This has generated awareness of Delhi's hitherto heritage and encouraged proper maintenance of heritage
sites.

Greens
As many as 5100 hectares of land has been
landscaped and developed as district parks, city
forests, neighbourhood parks and other greens by the DDA.
The green cover in Delhi is 19 percent, much more than in other metropolitan cities of India. DDA has played a
leading role in making this possible by providing
extensive green lungs in India's capital city.

Sports
Taking sports facilities to the citizens' doorsteps, DDA has developed developed 14 sports complexes including
one Mini Sports Complex,
26 organised play fields and
hundreds of other play fields all over the city.
Network of sports facilities created by DDA across the city, and the various sports tournaments that DDA
organizes every year, nurture budding sports talent in the city who are representing the country at
international meets.
In the four decades and a half of DDA's work, the authority has created a niche for itself in the hearts of the
people of Delhi. It is in cooperation with the people of Delhi, the government agencies, the private sector and
with citizens from every strata of society that DDA has striven to carry out its mandate.
Yes, DDA not just builds houses, it touches Delhiites ' lives in every way.
Trees, clean air, pure water and green open spaces.
"That's what makes a city worth living in"

Northern Ridge
The development of Delhi provided in the Master Plan provides for lung spaces with extensive open spaces in
the form of various greens. DDA has retained the natural features such as ridge, green belts etc. and
developed open spaces so as to contain the growing population of this metropolitan city. Out of the total
urban areas of 44777 hectares, 8722 hectares has been marked for green/recreational purpose.
As per MPD 2001, 8422 ha. of land has been reserved for the Greens. Although the green area in Delhi is
managed by different agencies DDA has the largest role to play with over 5050.97 ha. under its jurisdiction.
A comparative chart is given:
Cities Green areas under DDA
Bangalore 13.57
Hyderabad 9.21
Bikaner 2.63
Kanpur 16.80
Allahabad 2.98
Kolkata 7.00
Delhi 19.00
Along side the development of urban extension areas with colonies like Dwarka, Rohini and Narela, DDA is
taking special interest in nurturing the greens in these urban extension areas. A overview of these efforts can
be had from the data:
Green areas under DDA
Area Ha.
Total area of Union Territory of Delhi 148639
Urban area as per Master Plan 44777
Recreational Use 8722
Total green area under the jurisdiction of DDA 5050.97

Green in Urban Extension Project

Area Ha.
Dwarka 1034.00
Rohini Phase I & II 224.70
Narela 1029.00
Carefully planning the greening of Delhi, DDA works towards its goal by meticulously dividing the plan into a
level of hierarchies, detailed in the Master Plan. Thus the greening project is categorized into:
Parks
District Parks
Neighborhood Parks
City Forests
Historical Landscapes
Sports Complexes
Landmark Greens
Green Belts
Tot Lots etc

The scenario of Development of Greens for last 15 years is as per below

Areas Developed till Developed till
1980 1995
District Park 342.2 acres 820.65 acres
M.P. Greens/
Green Strips 289.00 acres 1908.00 acres
N.H. Parks 139.13 acres 349.63 acres
Parks/TotLots 147.28 acres 143.41 acres

Prestigious Projects Designed & Implemented:

Park at Rohini - 100ha.
Millennium Park, Ring Road, Sarai Kale Khan - 83 ha.
Upgradation & ecological development of Hauz Khas Deer Park Recreational Complex.
Heritage projects like; Qila Rai Pithora, Mehrauli Complex, Ashoka Edict, Purana Qila etc.
Landscape development of area around Tughlaqabad.
Planning & Designing of major greens in Dwarka, Rohini & Narela.
Designing of Sports Complexes by DDA in Delhi; 13 are operational & one is under development.
Golf Course development at Lado Sarai.
Organising Garden Festival/Exhibition & Seminars/workshops on Landscape & Environment.
Bio-Diversity park at Wazirabad under development.
Planning of Aastha Kunj.
Proposed Aravalli bio-diversity park at Vasant Vihar.

DDA spends approximately Rs. 40.00 crores every year for developing new greens and also for maintaining
already developed greens. Usually the green lots or parks after development of a particular colony are shifted
to the local civic bodies for maintenance but bigger greens are retained by DDA for up-keep and maintenance.
No taxes or any grants are received for maintenance of these greens. This is a healthy gesture from DDA to
citizens of Delhi. Further plans to improve the environment of Delhi include shifting of the wholesale fruit
market, handling traffic congestion, introducing a medium capacity transport system, creating a gods terminal
at Mori Gate, protecting and developing the ridge, developing the Yamuna River Front into a green area,
decongesting the old city.

Some of the landmarks in green development are:

Swaran Jayanti Park recently developed at Rohini.
Deer Park , at Hauz Khas
Jamali Kamali Park at Mehrauli
District Park at Dwarka.
Sanjay Lake in the East Delhi.
Indraprastha Park along Ring Road.
District Park, Kanti Nagar

City Forests
DDA is working towards protecting and developing city forests not only to create the much-needed lung
spaces for growing metropolis but also to provide people with a healthy, beautiful ambience to live in. Massive
afforested areas has been developed by the DDA to harmonise the balance in the fast-polluting capital city.
DDA has developed 25 sprawling City Forests, spread over 460 ha. all over the city. These are the natural lungs
of the city that counter pollution and environmental degradation.
DDA has afforested massive areas under to recreate city forests, as a counter to the pollution in the city,
creating oxygen banks for neighboring colonies.
Tall trees and the shrubbery, the chirping of birds and even the sense of the wild, balance the urban hustle-
bustle and the consequent stresses and strains.
A veritable paradise for morning walkers natures lovers, 25 such protected forests are under the current
jurisdiction of the DDA

Landscapes around Heritage Sites

Since time immemorial, Delhi has been both the capital city of the Indian sub-continent and also a "Garden
City". Rulers and administrators have vied with each other to create exquisite gardens in this city-beautiful.
DDA is maintaining the green areas around monuments under its jurisdiction, thus preserving their old
grandeur.
The result of this labour is beautiful alcoves of manicured lawns and landscaped gardens, be they around the
Qutub Minar or the Tughlaqabad Fort.
The erstwhile glory of monuments and historical relics like Siri Fort, Hauz Khas, Purana Quila, Quila Rai Pithora,
Idgah and Matka Pir has been maintained by the DDA proving befitting landscape and greenery to the areas
around them.
These are ideal picnic spots for the citizens, complete with facilities like boating and playgrounds, even as the
visitors breath in Delhi's historic splendor along with the fresh air.

Sports Facilities
The extensive sports facilities that DDA has created in the city are also serving to add to the greenery in the
city.
DDA has envisaged the development of sports complexes over an area of 20 ha. for a population of 10-12
lakhs, district sports centre of 8 ha. for a population of 1-1.5 lakhs, neighborhood play areas of 1.5 ha. for a
population of 15,000.
DDA has already developed 12 Sports Complexes, 26 playfields and 16 multi-gyms across the city. Many more
sports complexes and Health Arenas are being developed in the upcoming colonies.
The 20 fitness trails developed and maintained by DDA, are unique for simultaneously providing healthy
exercise and cleansing the environment.
Geared to cater to all strata of society these complexes provide complete avenues to unwind from the stresses
of daily life in clear swimming pools, equipped squash courts, well maintained lawn tennis and table tennis
facilities and sprawling play fields for football, hockey, cricket and other sports.These complexes are virtual
heavens for unwinding and exercising the mind and body.

Landmark Greens
DDA's effort to create Landmark Greens in Delhi is aimed at bringing alive the green tradition bequeathed to
Delhi during the centuries gone by.
The Landmark Greens have been envisaged as joyous, blooming gardens that emphasize Delhi's eternal youth.

The landmark Greens include the following:

Swarn Jayanti Park, Rohini
District Park, Dwarka
Deer Park, Hauz Khas
Jamali Kamali Park at Mehrauli Complex
Sanjay Lake Complex
DDA's Golf Course, Lado Sarai
District Park Kanti Nagar
Indraprastha Park
Aastha Kunj
Bhalswa Lake Complex
Sultan Garhi
Tughlaqabad Recreational Complex
Bharat Vandana
Yamuna Biodiversity Park

Securing a clean and green Delhi is a priority area for DDA, which is not resting on its oars but is implementing
its meticulously laid out plans for turning Delhi into a paradise of gardens that the world marvels at.

Regional Parks
DDA has 860.80 ha. under its jurisdiction in four parts of regional parks.
7777 ha. of area is divided as per below:
Regional Parks has been divided into 4 parts: Total area (in ha.)
Northern Ridge 87
Central Ridge 864
South Central Ridge 626
Southern Ridge 6200
Total 7777
The biggest is the 6200 ha Southern Ridge, followed by the 864 ha. Central Ridge, the 626 ha. South Central
Ridge and the 87 ha. Northern Ridge.
With utmost care, DDA is converting all sections of the rocky ridge into city forests, with a minimum of
artificial landscaping, providing Delhiites with an untamed jungle in the very heart of the city.
Flora and fauna, birds and aquatic life abound in this protected area, as also indigenous trees.
Regional Parks are a heaven for walkers and nature-lovers.

District Parks
District Park in the Urban limit has to be 9.7 sq.mt. per person.
The 111 district parks that DDA has created over 630.78 ha. all over Delhi have given to the city a serene socio-
physical environment.
The lush gardens, picnic huts, musical fountains, playfields and children's parks in these District Parks add joy
to the lives of Delhites, since they are just next-door, offering the soothing lap of mother nature.
This huge network of 111 not only improve the microclimate of the city, they purify the air, offer an ideal
space for recreation and gaining health.
Besides going a long way in improving Delhi's micro climate, lifting the water table, increasing rainfall and
providing doleful of fresh air to the lungs, these districts parks are a refuge for migratory birds and other
creatures of the wild thus acting upon the macro-climate of an entire region.

Neighborhood Parks
The 255 Neighborhood Parks created by the DDA over 316.06 ha across the city are individual islands of color
and fragrance in the heart of urban, cosmopolitan Delhi.
These Parks have been developed as ornamental playgrounds, surrounded by residential colonies.
Walkways amid greenery, landscaping that soothes the senses, colorful trees and shrubs, aesthetic flower
beds bring a spring to the stride and a song to the lips of visitors to these parks.
A mix of flowering plants and shade-giving trees, and a perennially pleasant environment, make these parks
ideal recreational spots. Neighborhood Parks to the tune of 1.5 ha. for a population of 15000 people is being
planned & developed all across the city.
They are distributed in the following manner:
Tot lots @ .5 sq. mt. per person.
Park @ 3 sq. mt. per person with one of the Parks to be of minimum 1.5 ha. size.
Play areas @ 1.5 sq. mt. per person with one of the play area to be of minimum 1.5 ha. size.

Biodiversity Parks of Delhi

Owned and Developed by Delhi Development Authority (DDA), with technical inputs by the Centre for
Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE), University of Delhi and DDA.
These parks are unique landscapes, designed in house by DDA the first of their kind in India and perhaps in the
world, which, like nature reserves, harbour hundreds of vanishing species living together in the form of diverse
communities and provide ecological, cultural and educational benefits to the urban society.

Goals of Biodiversity Parks

The prime goal of the parks is conservation and preservation of ecosystems of the two major landforms of
Delhi, the river Yamuna and the Aravalli hills. They seek to conserve keystone species and other threatened
plant and animal species, preserve the biodiversity of any habitat that is likely to be converted into urban
infrastructure, establish field gene banks for threatened land races and wild genetic resources, promote
education on environmental awareness and nature conservation, establish native communities of the Aravalli
hills and the River Yamuna basin particularly of the Delhi region, develop mosaic of wetlands that sustain the
rich aquatic flora and fauna of the Yamuna and monitor short term and long term changes in the ecology of
the Delhi region.
Thus, Biodiversity Parks act as heritage sites and repositories of the approximately 50, threatened
communities of the Yamuna river basin and Aravalli hills, provide ideal alternative habitats for migratory and
resident bird species, enhance ground water recharge and augment fresh water availability, act as sinks for
CO2 and other pollutants, ameliorate local weather conditions and buffer ambient temperatures, promote
eco-tourism and social connectivity across the urban community, serve as gene pools, and represent unique
ecological models possesing not only wildlife and natural values but also aesthetic, environmental and
educational values.

Conservation
It is now well understood that the last century has seen unprecedented loss of ecosystems that flourished on
the banks of river Yamuna, the siwalik foothills, and the northern limits of the Aravallis. This has occurred
primarily owing to habitat conversion and urbanization. The unique habitats in these areas harboured
extraordinary diversity of flora and fauna, which are now either lost or highly diminished. One of the major
objectives of the Biodiversity Parks is to create refugia for such biodiversity so that is can be conserved for
posterity.

In a short span of four years, the dedicated team of professional and volunteers at the Park have been able to
bring back a large number of plants and animals and recreate representative communities and ecosystems.

Promoting Awareness
In a short span of four years, more than 2000 species of plant and animals have been brought back in the form
of biotic communities to the parks. But this is not enough. The exhaustive developments in Delhi in the form
of urbanization, industrialization and pollution have led to rapid degradation River Yamuna and Delhi ridge
and in turn the ecology and environment of Delhi. Environmental resources have almost lost their life
supporting potentials and ecosystems have lost their resilience and natural self-sustaining ameliorative
capabilities. Therefore, the urban population must be made to realize that unless immediate steps are taken
to remedify the situation and change the attitude towards the environment the human species itself is at risk.
 One way to bring about this change is through outdoor experiences and Biodiversity Parks with their rich flora
and fauna are ideal instruments for promoting the conservation education that will ultimately have a positive
impact on environmental quality and conservation ethics. The Parks intend to organize special training
programs for youth and specially interested groups of individuals to make them aware of the ideology behind
their establishment. Such trained persons will be designated “Friends of Biodiversity” and they will be in a real
sense ambassadors of the parks working within the community at large and will be given special status for free
entry and access to research and development activities.

The parks are emerging as a major center for enriching people's lives through environmental stewardship,
education and awareness, especially for schools and colleges of Delhi and adjoining areas. Biodiversity Parks
are serving as learning and orientation center not only for the students but also for the teachers, scientists and
officers belonging to the administrative services. The parks are also working as an open-air laboratory for a
range of students and researchers. Visiting groups get interacted within the park on predetermined nature
trail.

To further spread the awareness, the Parks management has launched a quarterly newsletter entitled
“Biodiversity” which aims at promoting a harmonious relationship between people and nature through:
i.The dissemination of information regarding different facets of biodiversity;
ii.Participation in the development of biodiversity parks and other green zones; and
iii.Educational programmes offered in the biodiversity parks.

Living world
Biodiversity Parks contain myriad of life forms ranging from minute insects to large mammals and
communities ranging from sub tropical evergreen forest to ravine thorn forest ecosystems.

Delhi Biodiversity Foundation

In order to develop these nature reserves, and retain the ecological, aesthetical and cultural quality of
Biodiversity sites in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, the Delhi Development Authority has set up the
Delhi Biodiversity Foundation. The foundation, in turn, is setting up Biodiversity parks, which are being
developed by DDA technical inputs by team of scientists who have specialized in the areas of field biology,
ecology, wildlife, taxonomy, conservation, habitat restoration, natural resource management and nature
education. Besides these experts, trained technical supporting staff oversees the development and
management of these parks. The Foundation has a Governing body and an Executive Committee.

Yamuna Biodiversity Park

Aerial View of YBP

Emerging as the capital's most visited public place and prominent center for learning and understanding the
environment, the Yamuna Biodiverstity Park has become a home for biologically rich wetlands, grassland
communities, a wide variety of fruit yielding species and an abundance of medicinal herbs. The Park also
comprises a native flora and fauna which used to exist a 100 years ago and then became extinct locally. It
further, acts as a natural conservation site for specific group of endangered plants. The Yamuna Biodiversity
Park is presently spread over an area of approximately 457 acres near Wazirabad village on the flat alluvial
plains of the Yamuna and can be approached:

Entrance to YBP

(i) from East Delhi through Bhajanpura,

(ii) from South and Central Delhi through ISBT, and
(iii) from North Delhi through Burari. The Biodiversity Park is 15 kms north-east of Connaught Place, and 4 kms
north of ISBT.

The park features two major zones - the visitor zone and the nature reserve zone.

Domesticated Biodiversity Zone

The front portion of the Yamuna Biodiversity Park, a 220m southward and 140m northward stretch from the
main entry gate with 20-30m width is demarcated as Domesticated Biodiversity Zone. Enclosed by a hedge of
poplar, it features plants like Ailanthus, Butea and Bauhinia that have a continuous seasonal interest due to
their long flower production throughout the season. The outer iron fencing is embraced by multi-coloured
climbers like Jasmine and Quisqualis with the same theme of continual luxury.

Resting Point
Located at the main entrance, at the southward end, are three snack bars, a drinking water facilities and three
resting places covered with the vines of Argyreia nervosa, Jasminum sambac and Petrogea volubilis. Just past
the entry pocket and to the right is a “Welcome Rock facet” representing the origin of the Ganga and Yamuna
and their convergence at Allahabad. A trail further leads to the Bambusetum, the Nature interpretation
Centre, the Conservatory of fruit yielding species, the Migratory duck’s wetland and the Nature Reserve area.

A View of NIC
Nature interpretation Centre is a beautiful classical building with elegant lighting, a red carpet floor, attractive
interior designs, panels depicting various biodiversity levels, touch screens, and visual-aids that provide an
insight into the basic concepts of biodiversity.
On the left, the landscaping provides two shallow valleys representing rangelands

Welcome Rock Facet

with 10 mounds representing different ecosystems present from the foothills of the Himalayas (Siwaliks)
through the Yamuna basin, till the point of confluence of the Yamuna and Ganga. The first rangeland i.e.
Rangeland 1, corresponds to an exclusive Sporobolus diander dominance while the second one i.e. Rangeland
2 showcases a mixture of native tropical grasses such as Dichanthium, Chrysopogon,
Vetiveria, and Bothriochloa. These two rangelands are bordered by a serpentine trail. The first loop of the trail
connects Rangeland 1 with Herbal garden, sacred grove and Rangeland 2 while the other loop leads to
the butterfly conservatory and amphitheatre.

Visitor Area Trail

The amphitheatre is an open auditorium, the herbal garden offers a collection of about 450 plant species with
healing properties.
On this loop trail one sometimes comes across bouncing hares and has a chance to watch red-wattled
lapwings and other grassland birds. The exit of the Butterfly Conservatory on the west side leads to Sacred
Grove and the Gene Bank of Petro- and Oil-yielding and other plants through the Bamboo Bridge from which
one can enjoy a view of the resident ducks’ wetland and a wide variety of fishes.
Mounds
Surrounding the valley are the Ten Mounds which illustrate the different forest ecosystems in its miniature
form found all along the Yamuna River Basin. The composition of forests, as in nature, consists of three to four
layers: a tree canopy that supports climbers and provides shade for the middle storey tree layer and shrub
layer which in turn protect the ground-cover of herbs and grasses. Plantation on these mounds is designed on
the basis of the structure and composition of the forest ecosystem found in its natural environment. These
ecosystems are:
Subtropical mixed evergreen forest ecosystem
Top canopy - Toona ciliata, Dalbergia latifolia, Mitragyna parvifolia, Syzygium cumini
Middle storey - Trewia nudiflora, Artocarpus lakoocha, Cinnamomum camphora,
Shrub layer- Dillenia indica, Coffea benghalensis, Murraya paniculata, Bauhinia malabarica,
Herbs and Grasses- Barleria cristata, Flemingia bracteata, Desmodium triflorum
Climbers- Vigna capensis, Combretum decandrum, Vitis paniculatum

Moist tropical deciduous forest ecosystem with Teak as a dominant species

Top Canopy- Tectona grandis, Pterocarpus marsupium, Diospyros melanoxylon,
Middle storey- Buchanania lanzan, Albizia lebbeck, Bauhinia variegata
Shrub layer- Flemingia rugosus, Vitex negundo, Nyctanthus arbortristris, Zizyphus mauritiana
Herbs and grasses- Desmodium triflorum, Crotolaria juncea, Bothriochloa pertusa,
Climbers- Pueraria phaseoloides, Asparagus racemosus
Tropical dry decuduous forest ecosystem with Sal as a dominant species
Top canopy – Shorea robusta, Diospros melanoxylon, Putranjiva roxburghii,
Middle storey – Erythrina indica, Cassia fistula, Albizia sp., Sterculia urens
Shrub layer – Carissa spinarum, Zizyphus oenoplea, Nyctanthus arbortristris
Herbs & Grasses – Chloris, Eragrostis, Fimbristylis ferruginea, Indigofera tinctoria,
Climbers – Smilax zeylanica, , Clittoria turnatea, Marsidenia, Cocculus hirsutus

Tropical Dry Deciduous forest with Teak as a dominant species

Top Canopy – Tectona grandis, Butea monosperma, Sterculia urens, Terminalia chebula,
Middle storey – Emblica officinalis, Bauhina variegata, Cochlospermum religiosum
Shrub layer – Gardenia turgida, Randia dumetorum, Grewia asiatica
Herbs & Grasses – Barleria prionitis, Bothriochloa pertusa, Dicanthium Hetropogo
Climbers – Abrus pulchellus, Cocculus hirsutus

Tropical thorn forest

Top Canopy- Acacia sp., Prosopis cineraria, Anogeissus pendula
Underwoods- Zizyphus mauritiana, Maytenus emarginatus, Wrightia
Herbs and Grasses- Vicovestata, Vico auriculata, Desmostachya bipinnata,
Climbers- Valletia, Leptochloa fusca, Tinospora cordifolia

Scrub jungle
Top Canopy- Acacia catechu, A. senegal, A. leucophloea
Underwoods- Euphorbia neriifolia, Cassia auriculata, Maetenus emarginatus
Herbs- Tephrosia purpurea, Justicia simplex, Cyperus rotundus, Eragrostis tenella
Climbers – Cocculus laurifolius, Rhynchosia minima
Contact us on : Telephone No. 011-65649990 Mail id- yamunabiodiversitypark@gmail.com

Aravalli Biodiversity Park

The Aravallis are among the oldest mountain ranges having evolved about 1500 million years ago, and extend
from Gujarat through Rajasthan to Haryana–Delhi. The spurs of the Aravallis are popularly known as the Delhi
Ridge in Delhi which is divided into the Northern, Central, South Central and Southern Ridge.
The Aravalli Biodiversity Park is located on the South Central Ridge and spreads over an area of 692 acres. The
area is bounded clockwise by JNU (Nelson Mandela Marg), the Mehrauli - Mahipalpur road, NH-8 and the
Palam road and the southern boundary of Vasant Vihar. The landscape is undulating with gentle slopes and
dotted with numerous morrum and clay mined pits of different sizes, depths and shapes.

Route map of ABP

One can approach to the Aravalli Biodiversity Park, at present, either from Vasant Vihar- Poorvi Marg gate
located at about 4 km south west of Moti Bagh, and 2 km west of Jawahar Lal Nehru University (Munirka) or
from the Vasant Kunj Institutional gate which is about 3.5 km north of Mahipalpur and one km west of Vasant
Kunj Malls.

The Park features two major zones - the visitor zone and the nature reserve zone.
The first community that is encountered at the Poorvi Marg gate is young plantation of the moist deciduous
forest community represented by treelets of species such as Diospyros melanoxylon (Tendu) Adina
cordifolia (Haldu), Madhuca longifolia (Mahua), Mitragyna parviflora (Ken)and Sapindus laurifolius (Soapnut,
Reetha) under a canopy of Prosopis juliflora (Vilayati kikar).When fully developed, the top canopy of this
native forest community will attain a height of 40 to 50 feet. You may also find a few uncommon birds like the
Black-breasted Redstart, the red whiskered bulbul, and the Ashy Prinia.
The moist deciduous forest community merges with a luxuriant Acacia dominated forest community with
species such as Aegle marmelos, Prosopis cineraria and Cordia garaf interspersed with grass patches.
A side trail leads to the Fernary, a conservatory developed in a pit with rugged cut slopes having crevices of
varying dimensions that provide ideal niches for ferns such as Phymatosorus lucidus,, Lycopodium
wightii and Drinaria propinqua.
A view of peripheral bamboo plantation
To the south east of the Fernary, is the Conservatory of Orchids, one of the high points of the Park. The trail
from the Orchidarium runs through a young plantation of the Wrightia dominated community which merges
with the rangelands. The rangelands, spread over an area of 150 acres composed of a mosaic of grasslands
and woodlands, are rich in avifauna and carnivores sprinkled with termite and ant mounds on its grounds. The
trail that runs through the rangelands enters in to the visitor area which is being developed and will showcase
Aravalli plant communities, a rock garden, a bulbous garden and conservatories of butterflies and medicinal
plants.

Wetland
On the way from the visitor area back to Poorvi Marg gate, one can approach to habitats, which harbours a
wide range of communities native to Aravallis, distributed on either side of the main trail. Before reaching to
the office complex there is a side trail with a water body in the centre surrounded by a rugged and undulating
landscape with a mixed deciduous forest. The water-body supports aquatic vegetation and a few native ducks.
Adjacent to the office complex, one can find a trail, which passes from the conservatory of herbal plants, goes
towards a shallow valley, through stairway, called amphitheatre. Adjacent to the amphitheatre is a
conservatory of butterflies. Being a saucer shaped depression with slopes harbouring native bush vegetation;
it holds thousands of butterflies belonging to 30-40 species.
Contact us on : Telephone No. 011-26152972 Mail id-arvalli_biodiversitypark@gmail.com
Five new Biodiverswity Parks which are in the pipelines, the details are as per below:-
• NORTHERN RIDGE
Area 87 ha. Approx., Location -Near Delhi University
• TILPATH VALLEY
Area 70ha. Approx ., Location- Near Sainik Farms
• YAMUNA RIVER FRONT(O Zone)
Area 9770ha.
• NEELA HAUZ
Area3.90 ha. Approx.,Location- Near South Central Ridge, along Aruna Asaf Ali Road
• SANJAY LAKE
Area 56.65ha., Location –Mayur Vihar Ph-II