HARYANA ARAVALLI SAFARI PARK PROJECT: CRITIQUE AND ALTERNATIVE
Background: In April 2022, Haryana Chief Minister Mr. Manohar Lal Khattar announced plans for a world-class safari in 10000 acres / 3858 hectares in the Aravalli mountain range in Gurugram and Nuh districts of India’s National Capital Region. The Central Government will also provide funds to Haryana for this project which aims to be the largest such project in the world and cover five times the area of the current biggest safari park spread over 2000 acres located in Sharjah UAE.
This position paper on the Aravalli Safari Park Project by the Aravalli Bachao Citizens Movement and leading conservationists of India throws light on the following:
- Seven Serious Objections to the Aravalli Safari Project and Recommendations.
- Aravallis in Haryana degraded by mining need an Ecological Restoration and Conservation Plan.
- Suggestions for Restoring and Conserving 10,000 acres of Aravallis in Gurugram and Nuh given by Leading Conservationists which can be replicated in other Aravalli areas of the Haryana state.
- Profile of the conservationists who have contributed to this position paper.
Aravalli Bachao Citizens Movement has sent this position paper in the form of a representation to the Haryana government and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change asking the government to cancel the Aravalli safari project in its current form.
OBJECTIONS TO THE ARAVALLI SAFARI PROJECT AND RECOMMENDATIONS
OBJECTION 1: ZOO SAFARI PROJECT IN ITS CURRENT AVATAR IS SEEKING TO COMMERCIALISE THE ARAVALLIS AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED IN NCR’S CLIMATE REGULATOR, GREEN LUNGS, CRITICAL WATER RECHARGE ZONE, BARRIER AGAINST DESERTIFICATION AND WILDLIFE HABITAT.
The main focus of creating the Aravalli Safari Park is not the conservation of Aravallis but revenue generation for the state of Haryana by making the world’s largest zoo safari and entertainment park. This is evident from the fact that this proposal is a project of the Haryana tourism department and is being pitched as a big revenue generator for the state. The May 2022 EOI document of the Haryana tourism department explicitly states that the aim of this project is to increase tourist footfall in the state and to increase government and private investment in the tourism sector. Conservation of the Aravallis does not even get a mention in the aims of the project.
With the aim of the Haryana government being to increase the number of tourists coming to the Aravalli safari park, the resulting increase in human presence, vehicular traffic, construction, water usage, waste generated will have a negative impact on the fragile Aravalli ecosystem which is being ravaged by illegal mining in this belt as seen in the images below. (Reference: Original Application No.362/2022 Aravalli Bachao Citizens Movement Applicant Versus Union of India & Ors.)
Groundwater level in the Gurugram and Nuh region have been categorised as “overexploited” by the Central Ground Water Board. In Nuh district, the ground water table is already below 1000 feet at many places. The tube wells, borewells and ponds are running dry. Gurugram district has many areas in the “red zone”. With their natural cracks and fissures, the Aravalli hills have the potential to put 2 million litres of water per hectare in the ground every year. For the water starved areas of Gurugram, Nuh, South Haryana and Delhi where the extraction is 300% more than the recharge, good health of the Aravallis is critical for the water security of the region. The groundwater aquifers under the Aravalli hills hold immense quantities of water and act to release it slowly. These aquifers are interconnected and any disturbance or alterations in the pattern can significantly alter the groundwater table.
The Aravalli ecosystem needs to be conserved, not constructed upon and left alone to serve the critical ecological functions it performs for India’s highly polluted and water stressed National Capital Region including Gurugram and Nuh districts. A project designed with the main objective of maximising revenue generation in an eco-sensitive region like the Aravallis is flawed to start with. A project of this nature will not support “conservation” and “undermine the ecology and hydrology of the Aravalli area”.
RECOMMENDATION: Aravalli Zoo safari project in its current avatar must be scrapped. The primary purpose of any intervention in the eco sensitive Aravallis must be “conservation and restoration of the Aravallis” with any revenue generation activities being limited by guidelines of national parks and protected forest reserves.
OBJECTION 2: ZOO SAFARI WITH CAGES AND ENCLOSURES IN A NATURAL WILDLIFE HABITAT LIKE THE ARAVALLIS WHICH HAS RICH NATIVE FAUNA DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.
According to a 7th October 2022 Times of India article, in an online press conference, Haryana Chief Minister Mr Khattar said: “There will be 10 zones in all, including an underwater one. The zoo-safari will house up to 180 species of birds,15 species of mammals, 29 species of reptiles and 57 species of butterflies apart from the big cats. We will have zones for four big cats i.e. tigers, lions, leopards, and I will also talk to the Union Environment Minister to get cheetahs for the park.”
Haryana Forest department officials have said that the proposed safari will have designated zones, which would be fenced, and large enclosures for tigers, lions and leopards that will be relocated from zoos. “The central zoo authority has done an evaluation study of the area and found it technically feasible for setting up a safari park,” the officials said.
Objection a): The Aravalli Safari project is being conceived and designed as a zoo safari and not a jungle safari to see native Aravalli wildlife in their natural habitat.
Objection b): Aravallis in Haryana has never been home to cheetahs and other exotic species of birds and animals. Any relocation of a big cat like the cheetah would need extensive ecological research on the feasibility of doing so in an area primarily inhabited by leopards.
Objection c): Why should there be an underwater zone in a water scarce region like Gurugram and Nuh where ground water tables are extremely low?
Objection d): Message being sent through the Aravalli safari park project that “animals should be put in enclosures and cages instead of roaming free in a natural habitat area” is negative for our younger generation.
A large part of the 10,000 acres of area identified for the Aravalli safari park in the state of Haryana harbours a rich diversity of native Aravalli wildlife including 15+ species of mammals such as such as the northern plains langur, honey-badger, Indian fox, jungle cat, ruddy mongoose, leopards, striped hyenas and others as brought out in a 2019 survey of the Aravalli forests of Gurugram and Faridabad supported by WWF-India. Some of these, such as the leopard, honey badger etc are protected by law under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
There are 200+ native and migratory bird species and also many native species of butterflies, reptiles and insects in the Aravallis. And yet, there is no designated national park or wildlife sanctuary in the critical ecosystem of the Aravallis in Haryana unlike the state of Rajasthan which has the Sarika National Park.
QUESTIONS FOR THE HARYANA GOVERNMENT: What does the government plan to do with the native Aravalli wildlife that already exists in these 10,000 acres of land? Will the wild Aravalli species roaming in the Aravalli hills and forests be captured and put in the enclosures with the other zoo animals?
RECOMMENDATION: The Aravalli zoo safari project in its current avatar must be scrapped. Aravallis in the proposed 10,000 acres of the safari park are extremely degraded as a result of illegal mining going on despite the Supreme Court ban. Many hills have been broken and destroyed beyond repair. What this region needs is an ecological restoration project focussed on restoration of forests, wetlands and biodiversity. An independent study must be carried out by leading conservationists and wildlife experts of India to determine the best conservation plan for this extremely critical eco sensitive area of the Aravallis which provides many eco system services to millions of people living in the National Capital Region.
This could potentially lead to man animal conflicts as leopards are displaced and be detrimental to the ecology of the area.
QUESTIONS FOR THE HARYANA GOVERNMENT:
- What study has been done to understand the movement of wild animals in these 10,000 acres of Aravalli belt?
- How much percentage of the 10,000 acres area will be fenced and built up?
RECOMMENDATION: No construction should be allowed in the area as it will obstruct the movement of wildlife. An independent study by ecologists and wildlife researchers on bird and animal life and their movement must be done in these 10,000 acres of the Aravallis to determine the best conservation plan for this extremely critical eco sensitive area.
OBJECTION 4: MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS OF STRUCTURES AND CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES OUTLINED FOR THE ZOO SAFARI PARK WILL DESTROY THE ECO SENSITIVE ARAVALLIS.
The intervention of making a zoo safari park in the Aravallis and creating a major tourist destination by making hotels, clubs, restaurants, auditoriums, entertainment parks, landscaped gardens, laying of electricity lines, road networks as mentioned in list of mandatory requirements of structures in the Aravalli Safari Park outlined in the Haryana Tourism Department’s May 2022 EOI document will result in the destruction of the native ecosystem by clearing of trees, undergrowth, vegetation, grasses, ponds and other such niche habitats used by the resident wildlife. This project will result in a lot of unnecessary construction and real estate development in this eco sensitive area which along with an influx of visitors and tourists will cause more damage to the already at risk, extremely fragile ecosystem that is already ravaged by illegal mining (as seen in below images) and other non-forest activities and exacerbate problems of waste management.
Mandatory Requirement of Structures proposed in the Safari Park are unacceptable.
a) Habitat Components
- Development of animal habitats including animal cages and animal care centre (animal hospital) with post-mortem building & carcass disposal provision.
- Building blocks (guest house, research centre, laboratory, service blocks).
- Public/visitor’s infrastructure facility (road parking, ticket counters, hotels, restaurants, auditorium, visitor centre, toilet facilities).
- Operation & maintenance facilities (admin buildings, stores, staff quarters, security etc).
b) Physical Infrastructure, Service and Utilities
- A clear hierarchy of road networks with appropriate draining for electric vehicles, pedestrian and animals ride like elephant/horse ride, vehicular and pedestrian service roads.
- Water source, storage, distribution networks for both public, administrative staff and the animal habitats.
- External electrical infrastructure.
- Communication and network infrastructure.
- Firefighting infrastructure.
- Special security system for the animals and the complex.
- Boundary fencing for the site, animal cages and habitats (e.g., laminated glass).
c) Service Infrastructure to cater to Animal Habitats
- Central and distributed animal food stores.
- Food service lanes.
- Water-supply and treatment/isolation centre.
- Suitable land areas planning for production of fodder supply (sugarcane, banana etc.).
- Identification and development of animal habitat with grazing area.
d) Recreational Infrastructure and Facilities
- Children parks and botanical gardens.
- Special facilities like an aquarium, zip flyer, cable car, canopy safari, tunnel walk with exhibits, etc.
- Landscaped gardens with fountains and view towers.
- Open-air theatre, activity space, eateries, etc.
- First aid centres.
- Separate manmade ponds/lakes for both public recreation as well as for animal habitat.
e) Safari Club:
The recreation club would provide leisure facilities to the visitors and would be able to cater to needs of varied groups from families to students to office groups. The club would have venues to host conferences, large size social gathering and accommodation.
f) Eco Village
This area would provide the visitors with an opportunity to take a cultural and culinary journey. It would be developed as a major retail space for handicraft and handloom products and would also provide a variety of fine dining options for visitors. The facility may have stalls, display galleries, kiosks and food outlets.
g) Entertainment Park
The entertainment park would be designed along specific themes which may be inspired from fiction or Indian mythological characters.
OBJECTION 5: MASSIVE AMOUNT OF CONSTRUCTION AS ENVISAGED IN THE ARAVALLI SAFARI PROJECT CANNOT BE ALLOWED IN THE ECO-SENSITIVE ARAVALLIS PROTECTED UNDER MANY LAWS AND COURT JUDGEMENTS.
3800 hectares (10,000 acres) of the area designated for the Aravalli Safari Park across 18 villages in Gurugram and Nuh districts is protected Aravalli landunder the following laws, notifications and Supreme Court judgements which prohibit cutting of trees, clearing of land, construction and real estate development in the Aravallis:
a) Punjab Land Preservation Act(PLPA) 1900 prohibits non-forest activity like cutting of trees, clearing of land, construction, real estate development etc on forest areas protected under the Special Sections 4 and 5 under the PLPA in Haryana.
b) In a significant move towards protecting the vulnerable Aravalli range, the Supreme Court of India on 21st July 2022 held that land area covered under Section 4 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) be treated as “Forest’ and shall invoke the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act (FCA), 1980. As per FCA, activities like felling of trees and construction activities are considered as non-forest activities.
c) In the 14 May 2008 judgement of M.C. Mehta v. Union of India & Ors. I.A. No. 1901 in I.A. No. 1888 in (W.P.(c) No. 4677 of 1985), paragraph 12 states: “In view of the notification under Section 4 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) when the clearing or breaking up of the land is not permitted, that itself is a bar from fresh construction because a construction only can take place if clearing and breaking of an area/land taking place. This prohibition is clearly contained in the notification of 1992.
d) 7th May 1992 notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests restricts activities such as cutting of trees, electrification (laying of new transmission lines), construction of any clusters of dwelling units, sheds, community centres, information centres and any other activity connected with such construction including making roads in the Aravalli range including all forest areas and Gair Mumkin Pahad areas in Gurugram and Nuh.
e) The location proposed for the Aravalli Safari Park project falls under the category of ‘forest’ as per several orders and directions passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court and the Hon’ble National Green Tribunal and thus is protected under Sec 2 of the Forest Conservation Act (FCA). For instance, in theT.N. Godavarman Thirumulkpad vs. Union of India, the Supreme Court held that the term ‘forest’ is to be understood in the dictionary sense and also that any area regarded as a forest in government records, irrespective of ownership, would be a ‘forest’.
OBJECTION 6: PROPOSED ARAVALLI SAFARI PARK PROJECT IS A NON-SITE-SPECIFIC PROJECT AND IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE CONSTRUCTED ON FOREST LAND.
The Haryana tourism department’s EOI document proposes construction of establishments such as children parks, restaurants, hotels, aquarium, cable cars, open-air theatres, etc. These types of establishments are non-site-specific construction and hence such construction of infrastructure is prohibited as per the M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (2008), I.A. No. 1901 in I.A. No. 1888 in (W.P. (C) No. 4677 Of 1985).
Further, the 2019 Handbook (hereinafter referred to as ‘the handbook’) of Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and Forest Conservation Rules, 2003 (Guidelines and Clarifications) dated 28.03.2019, published by the MoEF&CC, also requires State Government to peruse alternatives for non-specific site projects. The relevant portion has been reproduced below:
“1.15. Diversion of forest land for non-site-specific projects: A number of proposals for diversion of forest land for non-site-specific projects like industries, construction of residential colonies, institutes, disposal of fly ash, rehabilitation of displaced persons, etc. are received by the Central Government. Attention is drawn to items 1(iv) and 8 of the Form ‘A’ in which the proposal is to be submitted by the State Government. In these columns, justification for locating the project in the forest area giving details of the alternatives examined and reasons for their rejection has to be furnished. Normally, there should not be any justification for locating non-site-specific projects on forest land. Therefore, the State Government should scrutinize the alternatives in more details and must give complete justification establishing its inescapability for locating the project in forest area.”
The Aravalli safari project is a non-site-specific project and hence, it is not necessary to be constructed inside the forest area of Aravalli. In support of this, the Hon’ble Supreme Court, in the case of M.C. Mehta v. Union of India & Ors. (2004)in I.A. No. 1785 of 2001 and others, also observed the importance of protecting the Aravalli range:
“The Aravalli hill range has to be protected at any cost.”
OBJECTION 7: MAXIMISING TOURIST INFLOW AND CONSTRUCTING HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS AS ENVISAGED IN THE ZOO SAFARI PROJECT WILL RESULT IN MORE WASTE GENERATION IN THE ECO-SENSITIVE ARAVALLIS.
QUESTION FOR THE HARYANA GOVERNMENT: Can the Aravallis already suffering from Bandhwari landfill pollution afford more human interference which will result in more waste creation?
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has recently imposed a fine of INR 100 crore on the Haryana government for continued ecological damage to the Aravallis and public health due to mismanagement of the Bandhwari landfill which is now higher than the surrounding Aravalli hills. The proposed waste incineration plant and fly ash coming out of it will only worsen the situation as “waste to energy” as a solution has not worked anywhere in India as India’s primarily wet waste does not support this waste technology.
Overburdening the Aravallis in Haryana with yet more waste created due to the Aravalli Safari Park project as a result of construction, influx of labour, tourists etc will be suicidal for this delicate ecosystem.
ARAVALLIS IN HARYANA DEGRADED BY MINING NEED AN ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION PLAN
Aravalli is a unique ecosystem, is India’s oldest mountain range and is our ecological and cultural heritage. The primary role of Aravallis is to provide ecosystem services to India’s National Capital Region, southern Haryana and entire North Western India.
a) Provisioning Services: Water recharge potential of the Aravalli hills with their natural cracks and fissures is 2 million litres of water per hectare in the ground every year.The groundwater aquifers under the Aravalli hills hold immense quantities of water which they release slowly. The Aravalli range is also preventing desertification of Delhi-NCR, one of the most important urban centres in the country. It also forms a natural barrier checking the spread of the Thar desert towards eastern Rajasthan, Western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi-NCR region. It has been established that India’s National Capital Region will become a desert if the Aravallis are not preserved.
b) Regulating Services: Aravallis are a pollution sink and micro climate regulator for Delhi-NCR. Aravalli forests act as the green lungs for the National Capital Region whose cities are included in the list of 20 most polluted cities in the world.
c) Biodiversity Hotspot and Wildlife Habitat: Aravallis are home to 400+ species of native trees, shrubs, herbs, medicinal plants & grasses; 200+ native & migratory bird species, 100+ butterfly species, 20+ reptile species and 20+ mammal species as well as other wildlife like insects, amphibians etc. 2016 WII study reported 31 leopards, 166 jackals, 126 hyenas, 91 porcupines, 64 civet cats, 50 mongoose, 26 jungle cats (26), foxes, wolves and rhesus macaques in the Haryana Aravallis.
d) Supporting Services: Soil Formation.
e) Cultural Services: Spiritual, Historic and Recreational.
What is the cost of interfering with these ecosystem services? If the Aravallis are not protected as a conservation belt and opened for commercialisation, it will lead to increase in air pollution and water shortage making India’s National Capital Region uninhabitable. This will eventually lead to mass migration impacting businesses and livelihoods. It will also lead to social instability and turmoil.
The Aravalli zoo safari project in its current avatar must be scrapped. What Aravallis in Haryana need is an ecological restoration project focussed on restoration of forests, wetlands and biodiversity. Aravallis in the proposed 10,000 acres of the safari park are extremely degraded as a result of illegal mining going on despite the Supreme Court ban. Many hills have been broken and destroyed beyond repair.
The Aravallis need to be restored by native planting and soil and water conservation measures so that the ecosystem services they provide can be enhanced as Delhi-NCR and North India face the adverse impacts of climate change. Many cities across the world now maintain significant proportions of their area under urban green spaces ranging from 20-30% of the area of the city, and accounting for 15 to 25 m2 of green space per capita. Forest restoration of the Aravallis will also contribute to India’s Nationally Determined Contributions, and improve Haryana’s abysmally low forest cover which is currently a meagre 3.6% of the geographical area (FSI, 2021) and well below the national average of 21%.
Additionally, all Aravalli areas in Haryana from Asola sanctuary in Delhi to Mangar Bani, Damdama lake all the way to Sariska national park in Rajasthan should be declared as a “Protected Area” to create an unfragmented wildlife corridor in the Aravallis spread across Delhi, Haryana and Alwar in Rajasthan. The “Protected Area” must provide safe passage for wildlife, with no red or destructive industry or infrastructure within this area. Regulated nature and wildlife tourism in the Aravallis in Haryana can generate local livelihoods and earn revenue for the state like how it does in Sariska and Ranthambore in Rajasthan Aravallis. Ranthambore and Sariska are earning global recognition.
The state of Haryana has an excellent model for restoration in the 400 acres Aravali Biodiversity Park in Gurugram (shown in the images below), which has resorted the native ecology of the Aravallis and has given the state of Haryana national and global recognition.
SUGGESTIONS FOR RESTORING AND CONSERVING 10,000 ACRES OF ARAVALLIS IN GURUGRAM AND NUH DISTRICTS GIVEN BY LEADING CONSERVATIONISTS OF INDIA
1) The entire stretch of 10,000 acres of the Aravallis should be either be declared as a “Protected Area” and then opened for nature, wildlife tourism of existing native flora and fauna. Alternatively, a network of “Strictly Protected Zones and Community Reserves / Biodiversity Heritage Sites” can also be considered to conserve the 10,000 acres of Aravalli forests & hills, where local rural communities along with the Forest Department can hold rights to tourism and restricted forest use. Tourism Department should have no role in this area. It has to be with Forest Department and local panchayats.
2) Aravalli hills and forests offer a great experience of trekking, hiking, cycling, adventure activities and nature-based sport like rock climbing, camping in the wilderness etc, guided birdwatching trips, wildlife tourism, nature walks and healing forest spaces to help people unwind from the hustle-bustle of busy life in the cities and from their daily work routine. These activities can help to develop nature tourism in the Aravallis that will allow city folks to experience the natural environment and wilderness without damaging it or disturbing its habitats by converting it into a zoo and doing too much construction and bringing unwanted real estate development in the Aravallis. Also, nature tourism will benefit the villagers by contributing positively to the local economy through home stays and villagers being employed as guides and for many other things. Sustained revenue can be generated in this model at lower investment. Haryana government can showcase this as a case study in conservation in and around an urban area. This can be also positioned as a case study for restoration and international and national forest and wetland restoration grants can be invited for this project.
3) The endangered/at risk species – plants, animals, birds, insects – who are the natural inhabitants of Aravallis must be clearly identified and listed and conservation objectives should be specified. Understand the wildlife, human interventions, community impact and extent of restoration effort required.
4) Strict guidelines should be developed for water usage. Monitoring of Aravalli aquifers and groundwater tables must be done.
5) A protection plan must be put into place. Sufficient number of forest guards or any such appropriate authority along with community guards should be the primary defence to protect the wildlife of the region. This must be supplemented with Advanced Drone Technology as a monitoring tool to regulate and control illegal encroachments, mining and other non forest activities in this area.
6) Position the Aravallis around Gurugram and Nuh as nature and wilderness zones to attract high value nature-based tourism. Many countries such as Japan, South Korea and Finland have created “healing spaces” by leveraging their forests and natural habitats. Below link gives details on how South Korea has used its natural habitat to create healing forests throughout the country. https://healingforest.org/2020/10/21/forest-bathing-secrets/
Aravallis in Haryana can be used as a range dotted with “healing spaces” and forest immersion experiences where overloaded minds and overworked bodies can come and find mental peace, solace and good health. Creating these “healing spaces” will boost local employment, help sustain biodiversity around the area and benefit the state economy in a sustainable way. This can be done by developing concept of ‘Learning from Nature’ by:
- Organising healing forest walks, nature meditations and forest art workshops.
- Organising sessions where elders and locals share forest wisdom.
- Doing action projects that give back to nature.
- Setting up forest schools and nature camps for children to learn from the wild.
- Nature-based tourism and guided bird watching trips.
7) Implement ecological restoration (through an agency/organisation with proven track records) in a smaller area i.e. about 10-25% of the total area (10,000 acres) in phase one. Adapt and sustain to restore ecosystem services and make the model self-sustaining, cost neutral and then revenue generating. Then, scale and replicate to the full area.
8) Form a Committee to design and oversee the implementation of a conservation plan for this region consisting of atleast 50% representatives from citizens’ movements, local rural communities and noted experts in the field of conservation, rewilding, wildlife, hydrology, waste management, etc. along with forest department and other government officials. Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal should approve the conservation planand also nominate experts to be part of the Committee.
BRIEF PROFILE OF CONSERVATIONISTS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS POSITION PAPER
Dr Rajendra Singh also known as the ‘Waterman of India’ is a water conservationist who has decades of experience in reviving dried up rivers, other water bodies and regenerating degraded areas in the Aravallis and other regions across India. He is a recipient of the Magsaysay Award in 2001 and Stockholm Water Prize in 2015 and is currently the Chairman of the People’s World Commission on Drought and Flood.
Prerna Bindra is one of India’s leading conservationists and has served on the National Board for Wildlife and as part of its Core Standing Committee between 2010 and 2013. She was also a member of the Uttarakhand State Board for Wildlife. She has worked with governments at the local, regional and federal levels, to conserve India’s wildlife and wild habitats through policy and legal reform, promotion of education and awareness and by supporting effective action on the ground. Her efforts have contributed to the creation of ‘Protected Areas’. She is also a writer and has authored the critically acclaimed “The Vanishing: India’s Wildlife Crisis”.
Dr Ghazala Shahabuddin is an ecologist working on issues at the interface of human society and biodiversity conservation in India and Asia. She has been involved in carrying out mammal and bird surveys in the Aravallis in Haryana. She is currently a Visiting Professor, Environmental Studies, Ashoka University, Haryana.
Neha Sinha is a conservation biologist and author based in Delhi. Her book ‘Wild and Wilful’ was recently published to critical acclaim. She has contributed towards the National Biodiversity Targets along with the Government of India. Amongst the multiple environmental undertakings that she has upheld, is the Amur Falcon Campaign in Nagaland, the greatest conservation accomplishment tale of recent times. She is a member of IUCN Commission on Education and Communication, E-Bird India Sensitive Species committee and others.
Dr Pia Sethi is an ecologist, consultant and researcher who has 20 years of experience in ecological and policy-based research on forests, biodiversity natural resource management and climate change.
Meera Chandran is an ecologist and rewilder who is involved in degraded land eco-restoration and diversity planting in the Western Ghats. Her valuable work is helping to conserve endangered, rare and threatened tree species, riverine species, species of medicinal value and wild edible fruits that attract pollinators.
Aravalli Bachao 