National Conference on

Eco-restoration of the Aravalli Landscape

Strengthening the Aravalli Green Wall

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About the Conference

Sankala Foundation is organising a national conference to strengthen the links between policy intent and on-ground ecological restoration through structured, multi-stakeholder dialogue to address the increasing ecological degradation of the Aravalli range. The conference, titled Eco-restoration of the Aravalli Landscape: Strengthening the Aravalli Green Wall, brings together policymakers, government agencies, researchers, practitioners, and civil society to collectively address restoration challenges and opportunities across the Aravalli range.

The discussions will focus on national and state-level progress under the Green Wall Project, integrating scientific and policy frameworks with community-led restoration practices, and building consensus on priority actions. The conference also aims to develop a shared roadmap for long-term ecological resilience by fostering collaborative approaches to scale eco-restoration, biodiversity conservation, water security, and sustainable livelihoods in the region.

Event Gallery

Aravalli Landscape

The Aravalli range, one of the oldest mountain ecosystems in the world, stretch across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi and form a vital ecological backbone for north-western India. Spanning 29 districts and supporting over 50 million people, the Aravallis act as a natural green wall—regulating climate, recharging groundwater, conserving biodiversity, and protecting the Indo-Gangetic Plains from desertification.

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However, large-scale mining, deforestation, overgrazing, and rapid urbanization have severely degraded the landscape. Nearly 42% of the Aravalli buffer zone is classified as degraded, with declining forest cover, falling groundwater levels, and increasing desertification posing serious ecological and livelihood risks.

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Aravallis Degraded Area Chart

Percentage of degraded buffer area (42% ~ 2.70 million hectares)
around Aravallis

Source: The Economic Times, Aravalli Green Wall: Centre targets restoring degraded ecosystems over 8 lakh hectares in first phase.

In response, the Government of India launched the Aravalli Green Wall Project (AGWP) in 2023 to restore 6.45 million hectares of buffer area through afforestation, reforestation, water body rejuvenation, and biodiversity enhancement. The project targets 2.7 million hectares of degraded land across the Aravalli range.

Objectives of the Conference

Objectives of the Conference – Aravalli Green Wall

Share national progress and policy directions related to the Aravalli Green Wall Project.

Showcase scalable and replicable eco-restoration plans and monitoring systems, including Sankala’s work as a template for knowledge transfer, broader goals, and scalability.

Foster cross-sectoral, state-level, and national collaborations in science and technology, as well as community engagement.

Develop partnerships, define research priorities, and outline a roadmap for landscape restoration.

Indicative Themes & Discussion

Technical Sessions – Aravalli Green Wall

Session I: Ecological Significance of Aravalli Landscape

This session will highlight the Aravallis’ role in sustaining semi-arid ecosystems, regulating water, soil, and climate, and supporting biodiversity across north-west India. It will examine the landscape’s ecological functions and why its restoration is critical for long-term environmental resilience.

Session II: Community Mobilization and Micro-planning for Eco-restoration

This session will focus on the role of local communities and institutions in driving ecological restoration, with emphasis on micro-planning and traditional conservation systems such as sacred groves, Orans, and culturally protected landscapes. It will discuss how social capital, community incentives, and long-term stewardship mechanisms can sustain restoration outcomes, while exploring convergence with government programmes to scale up community-led restoration efforts.

Session III: Towards Water Security in Aravalli Landscape

This session will examine how eco-restoration of forests, grasslands, and hillock ecosystems in the Aravallis can enhance groundwater recharge, revive traditional water bodies, and strengthen natural watersheds. It will highlight pathways through which landscape restoration can secure long-term water availability for communities and urban centres in this water-stressed region.

Session IV: Strengthening Aravalli Green Wall

This session will feature focused discussions on eco-restoration approaches led by the MoEF&CC and the State Forest Departments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. The states will provide updates on the AGWP, outline planned future implementation activities, and explore partnership opportunities.