Amid a fragmented landscape, hollowed out from a longstanding context of extraction, people are deciding to press the reset button and become agents of positive change. In the vast Aravalli range in India, red earth scars tell of the decades of quartzite extraction, now a movement with a vision of regeneration is transforming the heart of these ancient hills. The Global Rewilding Alliance is proud to spotlight our partner, The Rewilders, who are transforming these fractured landscapes into a thriving, regenerating hive of life.
The Before & After: Aravalli Biodiversity Park
Led by the visionary ecological practitioner Vijay Dhasmana, The Rewilders’ work at the Aravali Biodiversity Park serves as a testament to the resilience of nature when given a helping hand. What began as a 380-acre defunct mining site, choked by the invasive Prosopis juliflora, has undergone a miraculous metamorphosis. Their rewilding efforts have welcomed back over 200 bird species and a host of wild inhabitants, including the Golden Jackal, Jungle Cat, and the Indian Hare. This resurgence is fueled by their Aranya Nursery, a labour of love that propagates over 160 species of native plants, including rare trees like Dhau and Salai.
This spectacular recovery has also led to the park being declared India’s first Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measure (OECM) site. It stands as a vibrant repository of the Aravalli’s natural heritage within Gurugram, and acts as a critical shield against desertification from the Thar Desert by serving as a vital water recharge zone for the thirsty city. Globally, such rewilding efforts are crucial in averting desertification, with wild animals acting as essential agents that restore natural water cycles and improve soil health. As climate change-driven droughts intensify, proactive restoration of functional ecosystems becomes increasingly important to securing our water security today.
Nurturing a Community of Stewards
The Rewilders operate on a philosophy that nature recovery requires community ownership. They collaborate closely with municipalities and NGOs like IamGurgaon (another Global Rewilding Alliance Partner) to ensure these spaces are cherished and protected.
Their work turns city dwellers into stewards of the land. Students, volunteers, and local residents join hands with the team to nurture the soil – proving that the divide between urban existence and wild nature is bridgeable. With over 57% of our global population now living in urban areas, this is a bridge that we must actively construct.
Speak for the Peaks
Their work becomes even more significant against the backdrop of legal battles to define and protect the Aravalli range. Speaking to one of our team members, Vijay affirmed that protection must precede restoration and rewilding. The Rewilders stand firm as advocates for these ancient landforms. Their approach is data-driven yet soulful, utilising advanced ecology to monitor change while nurturing the land until it can sustain itself. They act as the designers and supervisors of the wild, setting the stage for natural processes to take over.
The team’s ecologists and landscape architects craft holistic designs that are attuned to the specific micro-habitats of the region.
From the seasonal streams of the Badshapur Forest Corridor to the 180-acre expanse of the Aravali Nagar Van, they are systematically revitalising the lungs of India’s National Capital Region.
If you’re a local who’d like to participate in their hands-on workshops, volunteer-driven fieldwork, nature walks, and more, check out their Instagram page (@TheRewilders_India) to follow their latest activities.
Learn more about The Rewilders’ incredible projects on their website.
