Aravalli Range Faces Ecological Emergency Amid Rising Human Pressure
India’s oldest mountain system plays a vital role in preventing desertification, sustaining groundwater, and stabilising climate in North-West India
The Aravalli Range, India’s oldest mountain system, is facing an alarming ecological crisis as unchecked human intervention and illegal activities threaten its very existence. Stretching across north-west India, the Aravallis play a crucial role in maintaining environmental balance, making their conservation no longer a matter of choice but an urgent necessity.
According to a report by Vision IAS, the significance of the Aravalli hills extends far beyond their geographical spread. The mountain range acts as a natural barrier against the expansion of the Thar Desert. Continued degradation of the Aravallis could accelerate desertification, increasing the risk of dust storms and prolonged droughts across vast parts of northern India, including the Delhi–NCR region.
The report further highlights that the Aravalli region is a major biodiversity hotspot and serves as a critical groundwater recharge zone. For states such as Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi, the range functions like a natural “water tower,” helping arrest rapidly declining groundwater levels. In addition, the forests and rocky terrain of the Aravallis act as an important carbon sink, absorbing carbon dioxide and supporting air quality at a time when climate change poses growing challenges.
Despite their ecological importance, the Aravallis have suffered extensive damage due to illegal mining, unregulated urban expansion, and large-scale deforestation. Environmental experts warn that without strong legal enforcement and active community participation, the degradation could soon become irreversible.
Initiatives such as the “Great Green Wall of India” and strict interventions by the Supreme Court are being viewed as rays of hope for the revival of the Aravalli ecosystem. Conservationists stress that protecting the Aravalli Range is essential not only for preserving wildlife habitats but also for securing a safe and sustainable future for millions of people dependent on the ecological services this ancient mountain system provides.
