YAMUNA

BIODIVERSITY PARK

Name – Jayant Vinaik

Course – BCom Hons.
Roll No.- 20212171
The Yamuna Biodiversity Park has become a home for biologically rich wetlands, grassland
communities, a wide variety of fruit-bearing species, and an abundance of medicinal herbs. It
has become the capital's most visited public place and prominent centre for learning and
understanding the environment. The park also has natural vegetation and species that existed
100 years ago but have now been extinct in the area. It also serves as a natural conservation
site for a number of endangered species. The Yamuna Biodiversity Park is now located near
Wazirabad hamlet on the Yamuna's flat alluvial plains and covers an area of around 457
acres.
Biodiversity is a term used to describe the enormous variety of life on Earth. It can be used
more specifically to refer to all of the species in one region or ecosystem. The flora and fauna
that once flourished along the banks of the Yamuna in Delhi have been successfully
resurrected. Environmentalists want to restore the river's natural splendour by reintroducing
several extinct medicinal plants in the river's flood plains—Yamuna Biodiversity Park
(YBP).

With the ever-developing world, the goal of urbanisation remains unabated, resulting in the
expansion of already-urbanized areas as well as the formation of new urban centres. India is a
good example of such regions around the world. This process wiped out and continues to
wipe out entire native species, such as those found in Delhi's forest and the Yamuna
floodplains. Biodiversity parks are urgently needed in India to prevent future loss of local
species, to reintroduce extinct species, and to improve the quality of the environment in
metropolitan areas.
GOALS

 Keystone species, as well as other threatened plant and animal species, are protected.
 Any ecosystem that is likely to be turned into urban infrastructure should have its
biodiversity preserved.
 Field gene banks for vulnerable land areas and wild genetic resources are being
established.
 Environmental awareness and conservation education should be promoted.
 The creation of indigenous communities in the Yamuna basin, particularly in the
Delhi region.
 The creation of a wetlands mosaic that supports a diverse aquatic flora and fauna in
Yamuna.
 Through research, short- and long-term changes in the environment of the Delhi
region are being monitored.

The parks features two main zones:

  Visitor zone
 Nature reserve zone

The Domesticated Biodiversity Zone is a 220m southern and 140m northward segment of the
Yamuna Biodiversity Park with a 20-30m width from the main access gate. Ailanthus, Butea,
and Bauhinia form a hedge around the perimeter. Multicolored climbers like Jasmine and
Quisqualis grasp the outer iron fencing. Three snack shops, a drinking water facility, and
three resting areas are located near the main entrance, on the southward end, and are
surrounded by Argyreia nervosa, Jasminum sambac, and Petrogea volubilis vines. A
"Welcome Rock Facet" represents the origin of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers and their
junction at Allahabad just past the entry pocket on the right. The Bambusetum, the Nature
Interpretation Centre, the Conservatory of Fruit-Bearing Species, the Migratory Duck
Wetland, and the Nature Reserve area are all accessible through a route. The Nature
Interpretation Centre is a gorgeous classical structure with elegant lighting, a red carpet floor,
appealing interior designs, panels displaying various degrees of biodiversity, touch displays,
and visual aids that provide an insight into the fundamental ideas of biodiversity. The first
Rangeland is dominated by Sporobolus diander, while the second is comprised of a variety of
native tropical grasses such as Dichanthium, Chrysopogon, Vetiveria, and Bothriochloa. A
Serpentine route runs between these two rangelands. Rangeland 1 is connected to the Herbal
Garden, Sacred Grove, and Rangeland 2, while the opposite loop leads to the Butterfly
Conservatory and Amphitheatre.

The Yamuna Biodiversity Park is home to over 1,500 plant and animal species and is home to
a diverse range of habitats native to the Yamuna river basin. Since 2002, the diversity of birds
has increased dramatically, with species numbers increasing from 37 to 196, and reptiles
increasing from 3 to 18.
The Ten Mounds, which surround the valley and depict the various forest habitats in
miniature form, are found all along the Yamuna River Basin. We were taught about all of the
different types of flora and fauna that we might see.
Meswak is a natural and traditional substitute for the modern toothbrush. Apart from their
antibacterial qualities, which may aid in the control of dental plaque production and activity,
such sticks are effective, affordable, common, and include a variety of medical benefits. Its
extract is also used to make toothpaste for teeth and gums.
The Indian Elm is a huge deciduous tree that can reach a height of 18 metres. On old trees,
the bark is grey and blistered, peeling in corky scales. The base of the leaf is rounded or
heart-shaped . The smell of crushed leaves is unpleasant. Flowers are tiny and range in colour
from greenish-yellow to brownish. Indian Elm bark is used to treat rheumatism. Ringworm is
treated with paste of stem bark and seed. 
In Ayurvedic medicine, ashwagandha is one of the most potent plants. It strengthens the
immune system and reduces the negative effects of stress. It has been shown to significantly
improve learning, memory, and reaction time. Without inducing drowsiness, it reduces
anxiety and depression.
The Giloy Tree is a medicinal climber. It is regarded as one of the most divine herbs in
Ayurveda. In India, the plant has a long history of use as a medicinal and for the production
of starch. It has anti-viral, wound-healing, and antipyretic (fever-reducing) effects.
Swallows are a family of passerine birds that are exceptional flyers and rely on their abilities
to feed and attract a mate.
The purple sunbird is a tiny sunbird with purple plumage. They eat nectar mostly, but will
also eat insects, especially when feeding young.
A huge diving duck, the red-crested pochard is a red-crested pochard. It is migratory, and
northern birds spend their winters in north Africa.
The nilgai, also known as the blue bull, is Asia's largest antelope and is only found on the
Indian subcontinent. A sloping back, a deep neck with a white patch on the throat, a short
crest of hair around the neck finishing in a tuft, and white facial patches distinguish the nilgai,
a robust thin-legged antelope.
We, the students of RAMANUJAN COLLEGE, attended an online session on the Yamuna
Bio Diversity Park on March 6, 2022. I gained a  better understanding of the biological
classification system. Plants ranging from non-flowering bryophytes and gymnosperms to
flowering angiosperms gave me a sense of how vital each organism was and how they all
played a function in the eco-system. Although the plants are valuable for manufacturing a
variety of products such as jute and ropes, they should be used responsibly to ensure resource
sustainability. The flora and wildlife are also visually beautiful, drawing tourists and
increasing the state's revenue.
The visit was an enlightened experience as many Anthropogenic influences have harmed the
environment include increased urbanisation, habitat destruction, pollution, biological
invasions, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and over exploitation of natural resources. As
a result, global temperatures have risen significantly, causing changes in rainfall patterns,
droughts, coastal flooding, and the extinction of various species. To deal with such
environmental concerns and rehabilitate degraded ecosystems, good environmental
awareness is required. With challenges like global warming, climate change, and various
pandemics, nature education is more crucial than ever. The younger generation will be
confronted with a number of environmental difficulties in the near future, and they must be
prepared to address them successfully. As a result, a commitment to delivering nature
education is urgently required.