Guardians of Nature!

Patriotism in Action It is the untiring efforts of conservationists that allow hope for the survival of the natural world. Dr Rahmani describes the actions of two such stalwarts.

-  DR ASAD RAHMANI

Think it was my dear friend, Bittu Saghal, who coined the phrase "Conservation is nothing but patriotism in action". In April 2022, I experienced two such actions on the ground. First one was in Delhi, India's capital, and the second one in the remote Chambal River.

I visited the biodiversity parks developed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) under the supervision of Prof. CR Babu, a retired professor of the Delhi University and an eminent ecologist and environmentalist. Prof. Babu represents the old-world charm of a real professor-scholarly, practical, strict no-nonsense type but with a loving and caring heart. Like a good professor, he likes to share his vast knowledge with students and staff. His students also adore him, and many DDA staff respect him as no one can match his practical knowledge and ecological understanding. He is India's leading expert on ecological restoration of degraded ecosystems. If anyone wants to see his work, I suggest that he/she should visit the biodiversity parks of the National Capital Territory (NCT).

DDA has established seven biodiversity parks in Delhi. Among them, Yamuna, Aravalli, and Neela Hauz biodiversity parks are fully functional (restored), while Northern Ridge, Tilpath Valley, Kalindi and Tughlaqabad parks are under ecological restoration. Recently I visited Yamuna and Aravalli biodiversity parks - my experience cannot be described in words. The route to the Yamuna Biodiversity Park goes through an extremely crowded, filthy and noisy Jagatpur village, with broken roads, haphazard buildings, hanging electric wires, piles of plastics all around, cows and pigs, and every vehicle in a hurry to beat traffic rules. Once I entered the Park, it was a different world. Tranquillity and orderliness that only Nature can provide.