“When we try to pick out anything and think,

we find it hitched to the rest of the Universe”

-Shashikant Nishant Sharma

Contents

1. Reasons for Decline of Biodiversity

2. Importance of Biodiversity

3. Location and Access to the Biodiversity

Park

4. Origin and Salient Features of the Park

5. Zones of the Park

6. Contour map

7. Landscape Plan

8. Design features of the Park

Yamuna Biodiversity Park - Phase – I & II

TOTAL AREA OFSITE- 185 HA.(APPROX.)

PHASE II121 .45 h

PHASE I 63.53 h

Yamuna Biodiversity Park

Owned 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 : Shashikant Nishant Sharma B.Planning School of Planning and Architecture New Delhi-110003

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)

Reasons for decline of biodiversity in Urbanized areas:-

• Habitat Loss• Direct human Impacts• Indirect Human Impacts• Species introduction• Harvesting, Hunting and poaching• Sports hunting• Commercial Hunting• Pollution and Climate Change

Reasons for decline of biodiversity in Urbanized areas:-

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.

Significance of Biodiversity Park

• Bio reserve

• As a water replenish zone

• Temperature regulator

• Dust Trapper

• Regional park for the people

Aim of Yamuna Biodiversity Park

• To 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

Yamuna Biodiversity Park

AERIAL VIEW OF YAMUNA BIODIVERSITY PARK,DELHI

Delhi Master 2012

Zonal Plan(o)Zonal Plan of Zone O

Origin and Salient features of the site

• This park is located close to river Yamuna,

Jharoda, Wazirabad

• Actually 1km away from the main stream of

Yamuna but still in its Basin

• It was a part of the flood plain during some 30-40

years back

• DDA acquired land in 2001-2002 and planned

biodiversity park in 2003

• The 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

Physical Intervention• To deal with localized flooding

terrain was modified by creating wasteland and marshes

• Mounds were created for leaching soil of excess salt and make niches for biodiversity

Biological Intervention• Biological inputs for improving

habitat quality• Farm yard manure, vermi

compost leaf mould etc were provided

• Leguminous species and some other characteristic grass were introduced

Importance of Yamuna Biodiversity Park

• Emerging 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.

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.

Glimpses of

Yamuna Biodiversity Park

Important Features of the site

• Ten mounds which illustrate different forest ecosystems found in the Yamuna basin

• Structure and composition is done in such a way to give it a natural view and environment

• The 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 biomass

• Different 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.

Zoning of Park• The 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 Bauhinia

• The outer iron fencing is embraced by multi-coloured climbers like Jasmine and QuisqualiS.

• The Conservatory of fruit yielding species

• The Migratory duck’s wetland • The Nature Reserve area.• Nature Interpretation Centre

Bambusalem-

• Vide diversity of bamboo species..presently 37 varieties of bamboo..

• Habitat of bulbul and many other creatures

Nature Interpretation centre

• Study centre for biodiversity and • Allied bio geo interpretations

Nature Reserve Zone• 20 different biotic communities

are being developed in 50 hectare• Massive plantation has been

started• Some biotic communities have

got developed and biodiversity can be seen

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 hectares

• It 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.

Other special areas are• Nurseries,• Amphitheatre• Poly houses• Orchards• Acacia grasslands• 750m long drain from Jagatpur Village• Rose Garden

Resting Point & Nature interpretation Centre

RESTING POINT AND EATING CENTRE

NATURE INTERPRETATION CENTRE

Growth of Park over Time

Growth of Park over Time

Growth of Park over Time

Growth of Park over Time

Growth of Park over Time

Present Situation

AVENUE OF TREES IN THE PARK

PERMEABLE PAVING ON WALKWAYS

TREES WITH DIFFERENT SIZES OF CANOPY

FIELD NURSERY IN THE PARK

INTERGRATION AND SEGRAGATION

ROSE GARDEN

PLACES FOR VISITORS TO ENJOY

Contour Map of YBP

Yamuna Biodiversity Park - Phase – I & II

TOTAL AREA OFSITE- 185 HA.(APPROX.)

PHASE II121 .45 h

PHASE I 63.53 h

Landscaping of Biodiversity park

FOREST RESERVE

MOUNDS

REFRESHMENT ZONE

NATUREINTERPRATATION CENTRE

ROSE GARDEN

WASTEWATER RESERVE

BUFFER ZONE

GRASSLAND

BAMBOO BRIDGE

MOUNDS

STREAM OF WATER

Thanks

Special Thanks To

Poonam Devan, Landscape Architect, DDA

A.K Singh , Incharge of Yamuna Biodiversity park

Abhishek Kumar, Freelance, Rohini