INTRODUCTION
Bhabhru Aantela Hills are part of Bhabhru Aantela reserve Forest Block situated along the National Highway 8 between Pavta and Paragpura. As a part of Aravalli hills there used be dense Dhok and associate forest in this block. But in course of time due to various biological and anthropological pressures, part of these hills got denuded as much as that almost all the hills and hill slopes facing the National Highway have gone barren and are left with very scanty vegetation. Village Bhabhru and Aantela are situated in foothills of this reserve forest. The high and barren hills present very tough and dry look almost during all the seasons particularly more in summers. As of late, the summer’s interval in the year has risen up to 8 months in the past few decades making the look of these hills very unpleasant to the tourists and passengers travelling on the National highway involving travelers from all corners of the country.
LOCATION
The proposed site is situated at on Jaipur- Delhi national highway no.8:
CONCEPT & VISION:
The idea conceived behind the preparing this proposal lies in developing the denuded and barren hills into green and beautiful vegetation so that in the coming years it can give a green, soothing, pleasant and colorful ambience to the passers bye of the National Highway. It may also be developed as a natural resort and eco tourist point once the vegetation is restored and the regeneration process restarts. Making it a permanent habitat to this place afterwards by the birds and various wild animals will be a definite part of this restoration proposal and hence climate change
CHALLENGES
The site has been lying barren and under many biological pressures since many decades, hence there are many challenges in its restoration. The important are listed below:
I. Highly Degraded status of the hills.
II. Almost no soil depth on the upper hill slopes, very shallow soil in the middle slopes.
III. Hard soils mixed with boulders in the foothills.
IV. Sporadic presence of Prosopis juliflora.
V. Low retention of moisture and rain water due to steep slopes.
VI. Biological pressures.
VII. Anthropological pressures.
VIII. Fulfillment of people’s expectations once we initiate the project implementation.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives to initiate this project are to:
I. Meet all the challenges as listed above in a phased manner.
II. Protect the area with permanent fencing.
III. Green the hills by re planting local and Aravalli flora species(as much as possible) in the area.
IV. Create green and colorful hills by mixing of flower bearing local species in planting in such a manner that they are planted on contour lines so that after growing, they can bear flowers of different colors and can give a soothing, attractive and pleasant look to the passersby of the National Highway.
V. Restart the regeneration of the barren hills by giving utmost protection.
VI. Conserve soil and water.
VII. Eradication of Prosopis juliflora in a phased manner. Initially the singling and thinning of Prosopis juliflora will be taken up so that they may take a Tree shape.
VIII. Plant species of medicinal importance suitable to the site
IX. Plant species of economic importance suitable to the site so that people’s involvement may be achieved in its maintenance and management.
X. Grow grasses of best fodder value at suitable places to provide fodder to the local people for their cattle which will help in open grazing in the area.
XI. Achieve people’s participation by way of JFM and its consolidation.
XII. Support natural species of the area to grow by natural regeneration and afforestation mechanism. Fruit bearing Species will be given preference to provide a food base to the fauna.
XIII. Provide shelter and safe habitat to fauna. Creation of water holes for wild life will be integral part of it.
XIV. Develop the area as an eco tourist spot so that people can interact with nature and learn it.
XV. Make it a sustainable project by way of ploughing back the receipts by way of utilization of products received from economic species.
ACTIVITIES
Following activities are proposed to achieve the above mentioned objectives:
I. PROTECTION MEASURES: This area, as it lies on the National Highway No. 8, very important highway of the country catering to the highest traffic, will be developed and restored as a phenomenal site depicting the typical fauna and flora of the Aravallies, will need to be protected by permanent fencing by way of constructing RR stone masonry wall, repairing of existing wall, strengthening it with angle-barbed wire fencing. The wall will be strengthened by vegetative fencing also on the inner sides preferring species of shrubs of medicinal value. Looking to the long stretch of the area, the check posts/guard chowkies will be needed. The existing abandoned forest guard chowki will be repaired and maintained and two more chowkies will be constructed as strategic locations. Special measures will be taken to safeguard the young saplings from the grazing/browsing/trampling by Monkey which might shift here from nearby forest areas like Sanjay Van.
II. SOIL AND MOISTURE CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES: The area comprises of high hills, hillocks, valleys and nallahs. There are rocks and boulders all around the area. The soils on the upper reaches of hills have almost washed off as the area is lying barren since last 2-3 decades. The real challenge will be to conserve the soils in situ and conserve the rain water as much as possible by means of SMC structure. The real challenge lies in conserving soil and moisture on the high reaches of the hills. The contour trenches, furrows, contour dykes, notches etc will be tried to cut off the run off to enhance moisture resime which can help grow vegetation further. Utmost care is required to do the minimum disturbance in soil work on the upper reaches and steep slopes. Loose stone check dams in the nallahs, some water collection naadis etc will be constructed at suitable places. Vegetative cuttings of suitable species will be planted where soil is vulnerable for erosion.
III. PEOPLE’S PARTICIPATION: Attaining people’s participation in creation and maintenance of the area will play the vital role. Existing VFPMC’s will be strengthened and new VFPMC’s will be constituted depending upon the jurisdiction of the villages. Involvement of the local people/stake holders will be ensured in the management from beginning.
IV. INSPECTION PATHS: Inspection paths make supervision and monitoring of the activities on site easier. Motorable paths will be created wherever possible. These paths may be used in future for eco tourism.
V. TREATMENT OF THE HILL SLOPES AND ROCKY AREAS: Treating hill slopes to turn them green without disturbing the soil much. Rocks will be broken by mild blasting and the pits so created will be filled with mixture of soil and manure to make better planters. Suitable arrangement of irrigation in such pits will help grow plants faster. Local, hardy and flowering species will be preferred in such pits.
VI. FLOWERING AND FRUIT SPECIES: Planting of Species of local origin bearing green and flowering crowns and fruit bearing species will be preferred on contour lines on high and middle slopes so that once they grow and flower, can give a beautiful and aesthetic look to the passengers on the National Highway. Fruit bearing species will invite many birds which will add to the biodiversity and natural beauty of the area. Bhabhru nursery will be improved to raise plant species of different uses including medicinal herbs.
HERBAL GROOVES: Local and suitable species of medicinal value will be planted in the entire area in patches so that it can cater to the needs of herbal medicine in future to the local people. These herbal patches will be maintained with people’s participation for sustainable management. Create water holes for wild fauna.
VIII. WEED MANAGEMENT: There are plants of Prosopis juliflora available all along the lower hill slopes. Careful silvicultural operation like thinning will be done so that some of them may be given tree form.
IX. IRRIGATION SYSTEM: Irrigation will be required to develop the area faster. For the sake of conservative irrigation we will develop such means of sub soil irrigation where we need less water and avoid evaporation losses. Some water reservoirs or tanks will be placed at different suitable places and will be filled by tankers or so .the drip irrigation system will also be adopted for some area.
X. AWARENESS PROGRAMS: The proposed site is a part of Bhabhru Antela reserve forest block which makes a part of Aravalli hills. It had rich vegetation of Dhok and its associates along with several herbal species in the past. But due to increasing biological pressures and environmental changes the hills have become degraded in the recent past. It is, therefore, essential to aware people about its regeneration and creation of a biodiversity forest again. Regular programs will be held involving local, people, public representatives, teachers, students, stake holders etc.
XI. EFFORTS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE:
This proposal envisages the contribution towards climate change. The plantation activities clubbed with Moisture conservation structures will definitely add to climate change, but apart from that several awareness activities will be taken in participation with local masses which can contribute a lot toward climate change. A few are listed below:
1. Using and advertising the use of energy –efficient equipment.
2. Going back to grow organic food and consuming that only. Organic food is better for the climate. It’s grown without genetically modified organisms. Organic meat, poultry, eggs and dairy come from animals that aren’t fed antibiotics or growth hormones. And because they’re grown in healthy soils, organic foods are typically more nutritious, containing more vitamins and minerals. Organic farms promote genetic biodiversity, create less water pollution and soil damage, and result in fewer poisonings of farm workers, and less harm to wildlife.
3. Use of renewable energy: Adopting solar panels or a wind turbine, to be a part of the clean-energy economy. People can be made aware of using alternative sources of energy to release pressure on our limited resources. Use of renewable sources of energy will definitely help bring Climate change at local levels too.
4. Live in the climate: Home heating and cooling is the biggest residential demand on our energy system .We should switch over to live with the local natural climate by adopting the olden days practice. This will indirectly motivate people to grow more trees.
5. Reducing Carbon Footprints: Buying local and seasonal food products will reduce energy use in transport and storage. Buying items needing minimal packaging will also reduce use of resources. Whenever possible buying secondhand machinery will also help reducing carbon footprints.
6. Improving personal habits: Reducing the amount of sugar, salt, fat and processed food in diet, Exercising for at least half an hour on most days of the week, nonsmoking, reducing alcohol intake, plenty of sleep will keep us fit and healthy and hence the healthy brain which will reduce anxieties and depression. Creation of this multi-purpose plantation will help local people come in the nature and observe nature closely and develop affinity with nature.