This document provides an overview of the Yamuna Biodiversity Park located in Delhi, India. It was created by the Delhi Development Authority to protect biodiversity and act as a regional park. The park covers 185 hectares and contains various zones like wetlands, grasslands, forests, and areas for fruit plants and medicinal herbs. It aims to conserve local species and ecosystems. Over time, the park has developed different habitats and now hosts a variety of plants and animals. Physical interventions like creating mounds and biological additions have improved the park's ability to support biodiversity.

1. “When we try to pick out anything and think, we find it hitched to the rest of the Universe”-Shashikant Nishant Sharma

2. ContentsReasons for Decline of BiodiversityImportance of BiodiversityLocation and Access to the Biodiversity ParkOrigin and Salient Features of the ParkZones of the ParkContour mapLandscape PlanDesign features of the Park

3. Yamuna Biodiversity Park - Phase – I & IIPHASE II121 .45 hPHASE I 63.53 hTOTAL AREA OFSITE- 185 HA.(APPROX.)

4. Yamuna Biodiversity ParkOwned and Developed by Delhi Development Authority (DDA), with technical inputs by the Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems (CEMDE), University of Delhi and DDA. By : ShashikantNishant SharmaB.Planning School of Planning and Architecture New Delhi-110003

5. What is Biodiversity?Biodiversity- An assemblage of several hierarchical components, the variability among living organisms from all sources including inter alia, terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species, and of ecosystems. (defined during Convention on Biodiversity)

6. Reasons for decline of biodiversity in Urbanized areas:-Habitat LossDirect human ImpactsIndirect Human ImpactsSpecies introductionHarvesting, Hunting and poachingSports huntingCommercial HuntingPollution and Climate Change

7. Reasons for decline of biodiversity in Urbanized areas:-

8. Why Biodiversity Park?The loss of biological diversity is at grave threat.To counter global climate change.Sustainable physical and social environment for improving quality of life.Conservation and Development of the Natural features.To protect the ground water recharge zones and enhance its capacity.

9. Significance of Biodiversity ParkBio reserveAs a water replenish zoneTemperature regulatorDust TrapperRegional park for the people

10. Aim of Yamuna Biodiversity ParkTo protect and sustain the biodiversity.To protect the natural drainage of river Yamuna in Delhi.To provide regional level open and green spaces.To protect the ground recharge zones like river Yamuna and Ridge

11. Yamuna Biodiversity ParkAERIAL VIEW OF YAMUNA BIODIVERSITY PARK,DELHI

12. Delhi Master 2012

13. Zonal Plan(o)Zonal Plan of Zone O

19. Origin and Salient features of the siteThis park is located close to river Yamuna, Jharoda, WazirabadActually 1km away from the main stream of Yamuna but still in its BasinIt was a part of the flood plain during some 30-40 years backDDA acquired land in 2001-2002 and planned biodiversity park in 2003The area is low lying used to get seasonally flooded and long spell of standing water has turned soil more saline(pH=8.9)For developing park two pronged strategies were adopted- physical and biological interventions

20. Physical InterventionTo deal with localized flooding terrain was modified by creating wasteland and marshesMounds were created for leaching soil of excess salt and make niches for biodiversity

21. Biological InterventionBiological inputs for improving habitat qualityFarm yard manure, vermi compost leaf mould etc were providedLeguminous species and some other characteristic grass were introduced

22. Importance of Yamuna Biodiversity ParkEmerging as the capital's most visited public place. Prominent centre for learning and understanding the environment.Home for biologically rich wetlands, grassland communities, A wide variety of fruit yielding species and an abundance of medicinal herbs. The Park also comprises a native flora and fauna which used to exist a 100 years ago and then became extinct locally.

23. Location and Accessibility(i) from East Delhi through Bhajanpura,(ii) from South and Central Delhi through ISBT, and(iii) from North Delhi through Burari and 4 kms north of ISBT.

24. Glimpses of Yamuna Biodiversity Park

25. Important Features of the siteTen mounds which illustrate different forest ecosystems found in the Yamuna basinStructure and composition is done in such a way to give it a natural view and environmentThe soil for mounds were brought from a digging wasteland and reservoirs.Different species of grass and shrubs were planted for soil better holding and for increasing biomassDifferent ecosystems such as deciduous forest, evergreen forest, sub-tropical evergreen, moist tropical deciduous forest etc.Broad divisions are bambuselum, Nature Interpretation centre, conservatory of fruit yielding species, wetland for migratory birds and the nature reserve area.

26. Zoning of ParkThe front portion of the Yamuna Biodiversity Park, a 220m southward and 140m northward stretch from the main entry gate with 20-30m width is demarcated as Domesticated Biodiversity Zone. Enclosed by a hedge of poplar, it features plants like Ailanthus Butea and BauhiniaThe outer iron fencing is embraced by multi-coloured climbers like Jasmine and QuisqualiS.The Conservatory of fruit yielding speciesThe Migratory duck’s wetland The Nature Reserve area.Nature Interpretation Centre

27. Bambusalem-Vide diversity of bamboo species..presently 37 varieties of bamboo..Habitat of bulbul and many other creatures

28. Nature Interpretation centreStudy centre for biodiversity and Allied bio geo interpretations

29. Nature Reserve Zone20 different biotic communities are being developed in 50 hectareMassive plantation has been startedSome biotic communities have got developed and biodiversity can be seen

30. Wetlands Two wetlands are have been created, one is narrow and 1.8km simulating river and the other one is wide open and deep spreading over 2 hectaresIt was created to serve as a habitat of aquatic life and serve the purpose of ecologically water purification, groundwater recharge, storage of rainwater and help in controlling flood during monsoon.

31. Other special areas areNurseries,AmphitheatrePoly housesOrchardsAcacia grasslands750m long drain from Jagatpur VillageRose Garden

32. Resting Point & Nature interpretation CentreRESTING POINT AND EATING CENTRENATURE INTERPRETATION CENTRE

33. Growth of Park over Time

34. Growth of Park over Time

35. Growth of Park over Time

36. Growth of Park over Time

37. Growth of Park over Time

38. Present SituationAVENUE OF TREES IN THE PARKPERMEABLE PAVING ON WALKWAYS

39. TREES WITH DIFFERENT SIZES OF CANOPY

40. FIELD NURSERY IN THE PARK

41. INTERGRATION AND SEGRAGATION

42. ROSE GARDEN

43. PLACES FOR VISITORS TO ENJOY

44. Contour Map of YBP

45. Yamuna Biodiversity Park - Phase – I & IIPHASE II121 .45 hPHASE I 63.53 hTOTAL AREA OFSITE- 185 HA.(APPROX.)

46. Landscaping of Biodiversity parkFOREST RESERVEMOUNDSROSE GARDENWASTEWATER RESERVEGRASSLANDNATUREINTERPRATATION CENTREREFRESHMENT ZONEMOUNDSBAMBOO BRIDGESTREAM OF WATERBUFFER ZONE

47. ThanksSpecial Thanks ToPoonamDevan, Landscape Architect, DDAA.K Singh , Incharge of Yamuna Biodiversity parkAbhishek Kumar, Freelance, Rohini