DEEN

DAYAL
UPADHY
AYA
PROKARYOTIC AND EUKARYOTIC CELLS -
STRUCTURE, DIFFERENCEs AND ORIGIN
COLLEG
E

(UNIVE
RSITY SUBMITTED BY:
PRIYANKA MEHTA
OF COLLEGE ROLL NO. 21HZL7139

DELHI) NAME OF COURSE: B.Sc. Zoology

Hons (1st Year)

VISIT REPORT TO ARAVALLI BIODIVERSITY

PARK
 ON 16-02-2022

An educational tour to Aravalli Biodiversity Park was organized by the

Department of Zoology in association with Science Foundation, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya
College on February 16, 2022. Students from B.sc Hons Zoology (1 st Semester) visited
Aravalli Biodiversity Park as part of their practical syllabus of "Principles of Ecology."
This tour was also joined by the faculty members, Dr. Kamlesh Kumari (Event
Coordinator), Dr. Renu Solanki (Teacher in charge) and Dr. Anina James. Due to covid
restrictions, this happened to be a virtual tour but as it was well coordinated and
organized so, the enthusiasm and indulgent was high.

The Aravalli Biodiversity Park is 692 acres in size and is located on the South-Central
Ridge. It was opened to the public on World Environment Day, 5 June 2010. The park
was transformed into a city forest from a 40-year-old mining site through the efforts of citizens,
ecologists and scientists along with the help of the urban local body of Gurugram. The work
started in the year 2010, when a citizens group called IAmGurgaon, wanted to do save the
Aravallis and create a public space. The terrain is undulating, with gentle slopes and
numerous morrum and clay mined holes of all sizes, depths, and shapes dotting the
area.
JNU (Nelson Mandela Marg), the Mehrauli - Mahipalpur road, NH-8, and the Palam
road, as well as the southern boundary of Vasant Vihar, form the clockwise boundaries
of the area.

HOW TO REACH: One can approach to the Aravalli Biodiversity Park, at present,
either from Vasant Vihar-Poorvi gate located at about 4km south west of Moti Bagh,
and 2km 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 visitor zone and the natural reserve zone are the two main zones in the park. The
park includes a number of trails and a native plant nursery and interpretive displays at
the entrance. 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) is the first community encountered
at the Poorvi Marg gate. The students observed a variety of butterflies (43 species) and
birds, including rare species such as the Black-breasted Redstart, red whiskered bulbul,
and Ashy Prinia.

Dr. Balwinder, the Park Coordinator, gave a very detailed and thought-provoking
explanation. She underlined the necessity of environmental preservation. The
Conservatory of Orchids, one of the Park's high points, is located to the south east of
the Fernery. The rangelands, which cover 150 acres and are made up of a mix of
grasslands and forests, are abundant in avifauna and predators and are peppered with
termite and ant mounds. The rangeland trail leads to the visitor area, which is currently
being constructed and will feature Aravalli plant communities, a rock garden, a bulbous
garden, and butterfly and medicinal plant conservatories.
 Picture 1

Picture 2: Aerial view from Madhyanchal in 2021

 Picture 3: Orchids of Aravalli Biodiversity Park

Orchids are considered as Royal family of plants because of their

beautiful flowers, incredible shapes, magnificent colours, fragrance
and long lasting nature. Only one terrestrial orchid species (Zeuxine
sulcata) is found in Delhi, and it is on the verge of extinction.

Growing shade trees and climbers has transformed a little mining pit
into Orchidarium. Thunia alba, Vanda cristata, Aerides multiflora,
Acampe praemorsa, and Coelogyne cristata are examples of notable
orchids grown in the conservatory. Students can learn about
conservation at the Orchidarium. More daring individuals could take
a short hike to a secluded cave teeming with bats. It is, however,
totally banned to disturb them by lighting or making noise.
 Picture 4: Some medicinal plants of ABP

More than 240 medicinal plant species can be found in the park.
Asthama bel, Brahmi, Gugal, Dardpaat, Rudraksh, Hadjod, Van tulsi,
Rakt madar, Nirgundi, and others are prominent species.

Overexploitation of medicinal plants from the Aravallis region has

resulted in the demise of several species with medical significance
on a local level. The ABP not only protects but also multiplies
endangered medicinal plants. The medicinal plant conservatory is also
used to promote plant conservation, education, and awareness in the
health-care system.
 Picture 5: Butterflies and their caterpillars at ABP

Pollination services are provided by butterflies and moths, which

help orchards produce fruits and seeds, crops produce fruit,
vegetables, seeds, and grains, and forest plants produce seeds. The
butterfly conservatory was established by planting more than 100
species of butterfly host plants in order to bring the winged
beauties back to Delhi.

More than 100 species of butterflies and moths can be seen in the
conservatory. Red pierrots, Pansies, Tigers, Grass jewels, Migrants,
Common rose, Spot swordtail, Blues, Tiger moths, Skippers, Swifts
and others are among the notable species.
 Picture 6: Common birds of ABP

The Aravalli Biodiversity Park has, in its short life, come to be

regarded as a birdwatching haven.The park, which is an eBird
hotspot, is home to around 185 bird species. According to a recent
study, the park is home to a wide diversity of native bird species,
with ecologically restored regions having greater bird contact rates
than weed-infested areas.

The sighting of endemic Indian birds in the park, such as the yellow-
wattled lapwing, the rufous fronted prinia, and the Indian bushlark,
show that its bioremediation (process to treat contaminated media)
has brought back a large number of native species.
 Picture 7: Deer at ABP

The most common mammalian species found in the biotic communities

are Jackal, blue bull, mongoose, five-striped palm squirrel Indian
hare, common palm civet and bats. These mammals are presented by
large populations. The sanctuary is also home to reptiles such as
snakes, monitor lizards and chameleons too.

Tree conservatory A tree conservatory of 10 different native trees

of Aravalli ranges has been developed in the visitor’s zone. The tree
species are Boswellia serrata, Sterculia uresns, Lannea coromadelica,
Prosopis cinereria, Anogeissus serecea, Pterocarpus, Butea
monospermaetc.
 Picture 8: Nature Camping

The National Camps Programme is an initiative of the Ministry of

Environment Education, which is aimed at creating greater
awareness, understanding and empathy of children with and for the
environment.  Nature Education at Aravalli Biodiversity Park involves
activities to inculcate love for Nature and its Conservation among
people, especially the younger generation. Many programmes are
conducted to spread the message of nature conservation focusing
biodiversity and its benefits if you have around. The primary thrust
of all the activities are learning by doing.

Park encourages all nature lovers and all those who are interested in
observing and learning from nature. This effort is an attempt “How
to learn from Nature”. The Aravalli Biodiversity Park is the only
place in Delhi which provides unique camping facilities to school
children for imparting environmental education in natural ambience.
 LEARNING OUTCOME

The Aravalli Biodiversity Park is a unique landscape

that harbours diversity of plants, animals and
microbes living in ecologically sustainable biotic
communities.

It renders multiple ecological services:

Amid the severe water crisis in Gurugram, with

the groundwater depleting at 5th per year, the
park serves to recharge over 320 million litres of
water annually.
Buffering local weather.
Having restored, the park is a vast carbon sink
and a rich resource for conducting various
studies.
Offers opportunities to study carbon
sequestering and how climate change is impacting
our forests in the semi-arid Aravalis.
The park plays an important role in engaging with
the citizens and provides them with a
recreational space set in natural surroundings.
THANK YOU !!
THANK YOU !!