Strategic planning interventions for mitigating land degradation in the eco-sensitive Aravalli hills

Abstract

The Aravalli Hills, among the world’s oldest mountain ranges, form a vital ecological backbone for northwestern India, stretching across Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. They play a critical role in regulating regional climate, conserving biodiversity, and facilitating groundwater recharge. However, over the past few decades, these hills have faced escalating environmental degradation due to unregulated urbanization, deforestation, illegal mining, and fragmented institutional governance. This research emphasizes the urgent need for strategic planning interventions to mitigate land degradation in this eco-sensitive zone and participatory stakeholder engagement. The study utilizes geospatial tools such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) to evaluate vegetation loss and soil erosion. Using remote sensing and GIS methods, high-risk zones such as southern Haryana and parts of Alwar and Gurugram were identified as severely degraded. The Delphi method was employed to gather expert insights from planners, ecologists, and administrators, prioritizing key threats including unsustainable land use, weak policy enforcement. The combined methodological approach provided a comprehensive understanding of both ecological and administrative challenges in the region. There are five-fold strategies proposed—focused on ecological zoning, degraded land restoration, water conservation measures, community-led management, and institutional integration. These interventions are aligned with national and global frameworks such as the SDGs, CAMPA, and India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change. The implementation roadmap details short- to long-term actions for integrated spatial planning and governance reform. The research underscores that strategic, place-based planning can reverse land degradation trends in the Aravallis and offers a replicable model for eco-sensitive regional development.