Protection of Mangar Bani: Implications for Biodiversity

Protection of Mangar Bani: Implications for Biodiversity

Question: Decision to protect the Mangar Bani forest in Faridabad and the 500 m buffer as no construction zone will go a long way towards saving the forest and the Haryana Aravallis. Elaborate.

• Decision to protect the Mangar Bani forest in Faridabad marks a turning point in the conservation of the Haryana Aravallis as well as the forestland itself

• Region is under threat from developers, realtors and urban expanders due to faulty master plans

• Mangar hills were panchayat common lands till the 1970s and converted to private holdings in the 1980s

• In 2012, the Mangar Development Plan was shelved till deemed forests were identified in accordance with SC orders

• Mangar Bani is a locally sacred grove and years of protection have contributed to the growth of this biodiversity hotspot

• Forest has been intensively studied by biologists and found to be one of the last remaining natural tropical forests of the Aravalli Hills in NCR

• Urban sprawl and garbage disposal has destroyed the other forests here

• The whole corridor surrounding the forest needs to be protected to provide long term ecological security in the complete Gurgaon Faridabad stretch

Facts and Stats

• Mangar Bani is a high biodiversity zone and the only place in central NCR where close to 30 different tree species native to Aravallis have been recorded as growing

• In a two day assessment, scientists found more than 100 herbs and shrubs here

• Mangar Bani forms a water catchment and groundwater recharge zone as well