DelhiS Yamuna Biodiversity Park Demonstrates Ecosystem Revival, Driven by DDA-Delhi University Collaboration
NEW DELHI: A collaborative effort between the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and Delhi University has spurred a remarkable ecological transformation in the heart of the Indian capital, as evidenced by the thriving Yamuna Biodiversity Park. Once a degraded wasteland, the park now showcases a revived ecosystem attracting wildlife previously absent from Delhi for decades, including a recent sighting of a wild boar family near the park’s office.
The park’s success is largely attributed to a bespoke approach to nature walks led by park officials like Babu, who tailors each experience to the specific backgrounds and ages of visitors. “If we have a group of college students from an arts college, we will have our talks in a way that they can understand and connect it to their experiences,” an educator at the park explained.
Interactive activities, including quizzes, photography sessions, and games, are employed to engage younger generations and foster an recognition for nature. Key attractions include a butterfly park, offering observation and photography opportunities to track butterfly development, and an indoor museum detailing the park’s flora - including Ailanthus, Butea, and Bauhinia – and fauna, such as leopards, nilgai, and civet cats, alongside its restored wetlands.
“Reviving degraded ecosystems has never been about just planting trees. it is much more than that.It happens when every part of the ecosystem-plants, animals, soil and even insects-comes together. And we have managed to build that ecosystem here in Delhi,” Babu stated.
experts emphasize the park’s success demonstrates nature’s capacity for self-healing when given the opportunity, even within the world’s most polluted capital city. the park’s ongoing efforts aim to inspire a greater connection to nature among Delhi’s residents.
