Aranya - Native Aravali Plant Nursery
Aranya was established in 2021 to provide high-quality native plant saplings from the Aravali forests. Early in our ecological restoration efforts, iamgurgaon discovered a significant challenge: the availability of forest species plants. Forest department nurseries in Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat were explored only to find that many forest species were not being cultivated. This led to the creation of this native plant nursery.
Over the years, numerous uncommon and important native plants from the Aravali landscape have been introduced into restoration sites. These plants create habitats for various species of birds, bees, butterflies, mammals, and other wildlife.
Saplings have been successfully planted in several locations, including Aravali Nagar Van, Sikanderpur Pahadi, Chakkarpur Wazirabad Bundh, Badshahpur Forest Corridor, and others. These efforts will transform these sites into forest habitats, providing numerous ecological benefits to the city of Gurgaon.
The process includes collecting the fruit, dehusking or drying the seeds as needed, and extracting some seeds from their pods, which can be a lengthy process. The seeds are then planted during the optimal seasons, which are March-April and June-July-August. While some species have thrived, others have presented challenges.