Environmental Crisis in the Aravali Range

Context: The Aravali range is currently experiencing severe environmental degradation due to illegal activities such as mining, encroachments, and deforestation. These actions are leading to significant ecological damage.

Recent Findings:

• Land Use Changes: A study in the journal Earth Science Informatics highlights substantial alterations in land use within the Aravali range, with a noticeable expansion in mining activities.
• Carbon Flux Observations: The study noted that regions with high rainfall and protected areas, like the Todgarh-Raoli and Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuaries, exhibited high positive carbon flux rates.
• Effect of Protected Areas: Wildlife sanctuaries located in the central Aravali range have played a role in mitigating environmental damage, with these protected zones showing minimal forest loss compared to other areas of the range.

Key Challenges in the Aravali Region:

• Illegal Mining: This is particularly prevalent in Rajasthan and results in the destruction of vegetation and soil cover, disrupts local biodiversity, and reduces groundwater levels.
• Deforestation: There has been a significant decline in forest cover across the Aravali range.
• Human Encroachment: Expansion of human settlements, especially in southern Rajasthan and Gujarat, has increased, further stressing the environment.

Way Forward:

• LiDAR-Based Drone Surveys: Utilizing this technology can help in accurately mapping surface topography and detecting illegal mining operations, allowing for more effective regulation and management.
• Creation of an Aravali Development Authority: To better manage conservation efforts and address ongoing threats, it is proposed to establish an independent authority composed of experts from multiple disciplines.
• Comprehensive Mining Ban: Enforcing a strict ban on all types of mining activities within the Aravali region is crucial to halt further environmental degradation and preserve the region’s ecological health and biodiversity.

LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) Technology:

• Function: LiDAR technology uses laser light to measure distances between objects.
• Application: By emitting laser pulses and recording the time taken for the reflections to return, LiDAR creates detailed 3D maps of the environment. This is valuable in various fields, including autonomous vehicle navigation, surveying, and precision agriculture.