According to the scientific study of the land use dynamics of the Aravali range post 1975 published in the journal ‘Earth Science Informatics’, there has been a widespread ecological degradation in the Aravali Range.

Aravalli Range

• According to The Forest Survey of India (FSI) report, the Aravallis include the hills and a uniform 100-metre-wide buffer zone around the downsides of the hills.
• Formation: Aravalli Range is one of the oldest fold residual mountains, formed from the convergence of tectonic plates during the Proterozoic Era (2500-541 million years ago).
• Extent & Location : It  extends from Raisina Hills in New Delhi to  Khedbrahma and Palanpur in Gujarat,in a south-west direction, passing through southern Haryana and Rajasthan, and ending in Gujarat.  
  • The total length is approximately 692 kilometres.  
  • About  80%  of  this  length, which is approximately 550 kilometres, is located in the state of Rajasthan.
  • Haryana, Delhi, Gujarat have 20% of the share in the terrain.
• Elevation: Elevation ranges from 300m to 900m.
• Ranges: Divided into two main ranges: Sambhar Sirohi Range and Sambhar Khetri Range in Rajasthan.
• Highest peak: Guru Shikhar in Mount Abu (1,722 m).
• Physiography : Aravalli Range as a rough, rocky, and hilly terrain. 
  • It is characterised by its rugged topography, with rocky outcrops and hilly  landscapes. 
• Rivers : Major Flowing rivers Banas, Luni , Sahibi etc 
• Major Minerals : Cooper, Zinc, Marble, Lead, Silver etc
• Tribal Communities: Bhil, Bhil-Meena, Meena, Garasia, etc.

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• Significance of the Aravalli Range
  • Ecotone: Aravali forms as an ecotone zone between Thar desert and the Gangetic Plain, in a semi-arid environment.
  • Biodiversity: Home to 300 native plant species, 120 bird species, and exclusive animals like the jackal and mongoose.
  • Important Drainage System: Aravallis have provided a watershed between the Indus basin in the North West and the Ganga basin in the East.
  • Desertification Control: Acts as a barrier between the fertile plains to the east and the Thar Desert to the west.
    • Excessive mining is linked to the expansion of the Thar Desert.
    • Presence of loess in Mathura and Agra indicates desert expansion due to the weakened ecological barrier.
  • Climate Impact
    • Shapes the climate of northwest India.
    • During the monsoon, it guides moisture-laden winds, nourishing the sub-Himalayan rivers and replenishing north Indian plains.
    • In winter, it shields fertile alluvial river valleys from cold westerly winds from Central Asia.
  • Mount Abu serves as a pilgrimage site for Jains and is a well-visited tourist destination.

Threats to the Aravali Range

• Change in the Forest Area: During 1999 to 2019, thy forest area decreased upto 0.9% of the total area, which is 75,572.8 sq.km. 
  • Until 1999, 29,915 sq.km of the range was covered with dry deciduous forest. 

• • This was reduced to 29,210 sq.km in 2019, resulting in the disappearance of 705 sq.km of forest.
  • The Forest area of the central range in the Aravallis decreased by 32% along with significant increase in the land under cultivation between 1975 and 2019. 
• Illegal Quarrying: Over 25% and 31 hill ranges of the Aravallis in Rajasthan have disappeared due to illegal quarrying. 
  • Jaipur, Sikar, Alwar, Bhilwara, Chitorgarh and Rajsamand districts have intense mining activities.
• Prevalence and Impact of Mining: In the absence of proper industrialization and sustainable livelihood sources, communities rely on mining and ancillary industries for income. 
  • The demand for construction material in NCR and adjacent areas drives mining activities in the Aravalli. 
• Increase in Human Settlement: There is a constant growth in the human settlement from 4.5% in 1975 to 13.3% in 2019.
• Rate of Carbon Flux: Carbon flux refers to the Amount exchanged between carbon stocks over a specified time, as it records the movement of carbon between land, oceans, atmosphere and living beings.
  • The regions in the upper and lower aravali ranges recorded high positive rates of carbon flux as they received high rainfall and had protected areas.In contrast, the areas facing a negative rate of carbon flux in the main middle range are near the Thar desert.
• Enhanced Vegetation Index: EVI is a spatial tool in remote sensing that can be used to estimate the biomass and carbon sequestration potential of forests. 
  • It is also used to monitor the health of forests over large areas by detecting changes in vegetation.
  • The lowest value of zero to minus 0.2 was recorded in the upper central Aravalli region falling in the Nagaur district.
• Biodiversity Loss: Loss of diverse flora and fauna, including leopards, striped hyenas, golden jackals, nilgais, and palm civets. 
• Drying up of Rivers: Rivers originating in the Aravalli like Banas, Luni, Sahibi, and Sakhi have become dry. 

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Consequences of degradation in the Aravalli Ranges

• Ecological Impact: Digging or mining to significant depths punctures aquifers, disrupting water flow and resulting in the drying of lakes and the formation of new ones. 
  • Man-wild animal conflicts arise as natural forests along the Aravallis are lost. 
  • Altered natural drainage patterns threaten the hydrological system and water table in the entire NCR region. 
• Intergenerational Equity: The exploitation of natural resources in the Aravalli range will burden future generations, emphasising the need for legal frameworks to ensure intergenerational equity. 
• Effects of Mining Activity
  • Water Scarcity: Disrupts natural water flow and groundwater recharge, leading to downstream water scarcity that impacts agriculture and settlements.
  • Air Quality: Releases dust and pollutants like silica, degrading air quality and causing respiratory issues in nearby communities.
  • Soil Erosion and Desertification: Removes vegetation, exposing soil to erosion and accelerating desertification as topsoil is washed away.

Suggestions

• Comprehensive Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) based drone survey of Aravalli Region: 
  • The LiDAR  survey targets an object or a surface with a laser and measures the time for the reflected right to return to the receiver.
  • It will facilitate the identification and mitigation of illegal mining activities and enable authorities to take prompt enforcement actions to curb environmental degradation.
• Ban on all forms of Mining: Ban on all forms of Mining within the Aravali Range would safeguard the remaining hills from further depletion and preserve its ecological balance and biodiversity.
• Clear laws and guidelines: There is a need for clear guidelines regarding inappropriate ownership and the process of privatisation of land. There is no clear definition of Forest in particular to the region per se.  
• Reforestation Initiatives: Reforestation efforts can restore the Aravalli to their original vegetation state, similar to the successful restoration undertaken at the Aravalli Biodiversity Park. 
• The Aravali Green Wall Project: Inspired by Africa’s ‘Great Green Wall,’ India plans to create a 1,400 km long and 5 km wide green belt from Gujarat to the Delhi-Haryana border.
  • This initiative aims to combat land degradation and halt the eastward spread of the Thar Desert.

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