3/5 Dravyansh P. 1 year ago on Google
The
Northern
Ridge
(Kamla
Nehru
Ridge)
spreads
across
122.00
hectares
near
Delhi
University,
north
Campus.
Based
on
the
topographical
features
and
the
divides
formed
by
public
roads
that
pass
through
the
Ridge,
the
Northern
Ridgeis
divided
into
6
segments
(zones).
The
Ridge
is
highly
weathered
resulting
in
undulating
topography
with
many
high
and
low
points.
Consequently,
the
Ridge
has
flat
hill
tops,
shallow
valleys
and
gentle
slopes.
The
Ridge
is
fragmented
due
to
City
Roads
that
traverses
through
the
Ridge
in
criss
cross
manner
and
infested
by
a
Mexican
weed-
Prosopis
juliflora,
commonly
known
as
Kabuli
Kikar
or
Vilayati
Kikar,
which
was
introduced
by
British
Colonial
Government
for
greening
the
Ridge.
Within
150
years
of
introduction
on
the
Ridge
it
has
eliminated
many
native
plant
and
animal
species.
The
major
objective
is
to
bring
back
the
pristine
native
forest
communities
of
Aravalli
Hill
Ranges
that
once
thrived
in
the
Ridge.
Canopy
Opening
method
and
cut
rootstock
method
have
been
used
for
the
management
of
Prosopis
juliflora.
To
allow
the
saplings
planted
to
grow,
small
canopy
gaps
have
been
created
by
pruning
dead
branchlets
of
the
invasive
alien
Prosopis
juliflora,
which
as
per
International
Conventions,
and
recommendations
of
FAO,
has
to
be
eradicated.
Lantana,
another
noxious
alien
species,
which
is
being
eradicated
from
protected
areas,
has
been
removed
to
create
space
on
the
ground.
With
opening
of
the
canopy,
native
plants
get
abundant
sunlight
for
their
growth
and
survival
and
slowly
they
out-compete
the
Prosopis
juliflora.
The
approach
involving
the
creation
of
small
canopy
gaps
and
removal
of
weedy
species
from
the
ground
for
allowing
the
growth
of
saplings
of
native
tree
species
is
novel
and
simulates
the
natural
ecological
succession
process,
the
end
product
of
which
is
the
original
ecosystems.
Restoration
of
biodiversity
at
KNR
has
started
with
re-introduction
of
various
plant
species
that
once
existed
here.
This
includes
various
species
of
herbs,
shrubs,
trees
and
grasses.
So
far,
total
9876
native
plants
have
been
planted
at
KNR.
The
hill-tops
and
slopes
with
boulders
are
being
developed
into
Tropical
Dry
Deciduous
Forest
with
species
such
as
Acacia
senegal,
Acacia
catechu,
Acacia
modesta,
Prosopis
cineraria,
Holoptelia
integrifolia,
Lannea
coromandelica,
Sterculia
urens,
Butea
monosperma,
Nyctanthus
arbor-tristis,
Wrightia
tinctoria,
Aegle
marmelos
and
Cassia
fistula.
Some
of
the
ditches
where
moisture
is
abundant
are
planted
with
Mixed
Dry
Deciduous
Forest
species
such
as
Bauhinia
variegata,
Albizia
lebbeck,
Syzygium
cumini,
Emblica
officinalis,
Mitragyna
parviflora,
Terminalia
belerica,
Terminalia
arjuna,
Terminalia
tomentosa,
Erythrina
indica,
Ficus
racemosa,
Ficus
virens
etc.
Some
of
the
areas
have
been
vegetated
with
Anogeissus
Dominated
Community
species
such
as
Anogeissus
pendula,
Anogeissus
sericea
along
with
Wrightia
tinctoria,
Cassia
fistula,
Ficus
virens
etc.
The
areas
all
along
the
boundary
wall
of
the
KNR
have
been
planted
with
bamboo-
Dendrocalamus
strictus.
During
the
monsoon,
seeds
of
Cenchrus
ciliaris
have
been
broadcasted
to
enrich
and
extend
the
grass
cover.
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