Haryana Environment, Forest, and Wildlife Minister Rao Narbir Singh on Sunday called for a collective pledge to conserve endangered wildlife species on World Wildlife Day (March 3). He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the importance of wildlife conservation in Sunday’s 119th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’. The Forest Department is committed to enhancing and preserving the ecosystem of the Aravalli region, he added.
The Forest and Wildlife Minister further said that the plans for the Jungle Safari and Aravalli Green Wall Project have already been drafted. Recently, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav inaugurated the Aravalli Green Wall Project. The proposal for the Jungle Safari is almost complete, with efforts underway to launch it on World Wildlife Day, he added.
The Minister said that environmental conservation has become a global priority due to the growing concerns of climate change and increasing pollution. To restore environmental balance, it is crucial to adopt a more sensitive approach toward nature and wildlife conservation. He also highlighted the commendable involvement of new startups, alongside the private sector, in supporting conservation efforts, which complements the government’s initiatives.
Rao Narbir said that while the Jungle Safari project was initially assigned to the Tourism Department, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has now entrusted its execution to the Forest and Wildlife Department. The Department is progressing at a rapid pace. The Minister said that he personally visited the Gorewada Wildlife Safari in Nagpur (Maharashtra) and the Vantara Project in Jamnagar, Gujarat, along with departmental officials. The efforts are for the proposed Jungle Safari Project in the Aravalli region to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi.
He said that the Aravalli Green Wall Project aims to improve over 1.15 million hectares of land across four states – Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Delhi – demonstrating an exemplary model of multi-state cooperation. The project focuses on afforestation with indigenous tree species, biodiversity conservation, soil health restoration, and enhancing groundwater recharge.
He said that these projects will not only create employment opportunities for people in the Aravalli region but will also foster biodiversity conservation and promote environmentally sustainable resource management. He added that in Haryana, to raise awareness among the younger generation about the importance of nature and enhance their livelihoods, Van Mitras have been appointed to connect local communities with the forests, the Minister added.
