Description

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Context:

At United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP16 in Riyadh, India will showcase its innovative Aravalli Green Wall Project (AGWP), a comprehensive initiative to combat land degradation and desertification.

About Aravalli Green Wall Project:

Origin	Inspired by Africa’s Great Green Wall initiative spanning from Senegal to Djibouti. Conceptualized to combat desertification spreading from the Thar Desert to northern India.
States Covered	Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Delhi
Aim	Restoration of 1.15 million hectares of degraded land by 2027. Mitigation of soil degradation, erosion, and drought impacts. Rejuvenation of 75 water bodies in the initial phase.
Features	Creation of a 1,400 km long and 5 km wide green belt along the Aravalli Range. Integration of indigenous afforestation, biodiversity conservation, and advanced water management. Use of GIS tools and Nature-Based Solutions to stabilize ecosystems. Community engagement for sustainable restoration and green employment opportunities.

About Aravali Mountain Range:

It is a mountain range in Northern-Western India, running approximately 670 km in a south-west direction, starting near Delhi, passing through southern Haryana, Rajasthan, and ending in Ahmedabad Gujarat.

The highest peak is Guru Shikhar on Mount Abu.

The Aravalli Range is one of the oldest geological features on Earth, having its origin in the Proterozoic era.

The Aravalli Range is rich in natural resources and serves as check to the growth of the western desert.

What is Great Green Wall of Africa (GGW)?

It is a project adopted by the African Union in 2007, initially conceived as a way to combat desertification in the Sahel region and hold back expansion of the Sahara Desert, by planting a wall of trees stretching across the entire Sahel from Djibouti, Djibouti to Dakar, Senegal.

Source:

DDNEWS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements regarding the Aravalli Green Wall Project:

The project aims to create a green belt along the Aravalli Range to combat desertification and land degradation.
It is being implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in collaboration with state governments.
The Aravalli Green Wall Project primarily focuses on afforestation in the regions of Rajasthan and Haryana only.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: a

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Aravalli Green Wall Project aims to combat desertification, reduce land degradation, and restore the ecological balance by creating a green belt along the Aravalli Range, which stretches across several states in India.

Statement 2 is correct: The project is being led by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in collaboration with state governments, including Rajasthan, Haryana, and others, to implement afforestation and restoration activities.

Statement 3 is incorrect: While the project focuses on afforestation in Rajasthan and Haryana, it also extends to areas in Delhi, Gujarat, and other states that are part of the Aravalli range, not just these two states.