Why we need to protect the Aravalli forests from being cut down?

The state of Haryana currently has the lowest forest cover in India. The forest cover in Haryana is only 3.62%, which is much lesser than the Haryana forest policy target of 20% forest and tree cover.

Forest cover in the state is mostly concentrated in the Aravalli hills in the south and Shivalik’s in north Haryana.

These days, when the residents of Northern India are breathing heavily polluted air, the role of forests in providing Clean Air becomes even more crucial. We must do everything we can, to preserve whatever remains of our forests, from further destruction and depravation.

Hence, it is ironic that the Haryana Government has brought an Amendment to the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) which has guarded Haryana’s forests for more than a century. This has opened up 33% of the forest land in Haryana for urbanisation and real estate development. At complete risk of destruction are 16,000 plus acres of Aravalli forests in Gurugram district and 10,000 plus acres in Faridabad.

According to Neelam Ahluwalia of the Aravalli Bachao Citizen’s Movement, the amended bill seeks to benefit the real estate sector at the cost of forests, wildlife, water security, air quality and the health and wellbeing of millions of citizens living in Delhi NCR. This article mentions 21 further reasons why forests are important.

Photo Credit: Rohit Jain Paras; via ‘The Hindu’

The Aravalli forests are a biodiversity hotspot with over 400 species of native trees, shrubs and herbs uniquely adapted to the dry conditions, and over 200 bird species and wildlife. They are the only shield against desertification of the Delhi NCR region.

Many children and adult residents of the NCR, infamous for being one of the most polluted areas in India already face severe respiratory problems and other health issues due to the extremely poor air quality. Opening up the Aravalli forests, which act as the green lungs of this region for real estate development will further worsen the air pollution problem and put citizen’s health and quality of life at stake.

On 1st March, concerned citizens of Gurgaon and Delhi held a peaceful demonstration in the Aravalli foothills next to the Gurgaon-Faridabad road. Slogans like “We will save our Aravalis, our healing forests”, “We love Aravalis, our lifeline for clean air and water security” reverberated through the air. Inspired by Sunderlal Bahuguna and the women of Uttarakhand, the group then re-enacted the Chipko Andolan of the 1970s, in a symbolic commitment of their love for these urban forests.

“Where the breath is without the taste of smoke and PM 2.5 is low, where lungs don’t shrivel up and arms don’t reach out for the nebulizer”, was the beginning of a poem recited by one of the protestors.