Earth Walks and Tree Exploration at Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary
Exploring the whispers of the trees at Asola Bhatti - A report of the tree walk held at Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary
Date: 08 March 2026
Location: Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary
Walk Leader: Sohail Madan
Walk theme: Slow walk in the wild
Walk Coordinator: Salil Dutta
No. of participants: 50
Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary. The panoramic sanctuary has a deep history of conservation. Sprawling over 32 sq. km of land, it stands as a prime example of how restoration and protection can bring drastic results in the arena of urban biodiversity. To highlight the importance of this collective initiative of the Department of Forests and Wildlife, GNCT of Delhi, Asian Adventures, in collaboration with Global Wildlife Fair and Delhi Tourism, organised an Earth Walk here. The walk began with the participants introducing themselves and sharing stories that brought them into the field of wildlife. Some were associated with this field as professional photographers, birders or naturalists, while some worked as IT professionals, graphic designers, and had various other professions, but the passion for wildlife within them always enabled them to take out time from their busy schedules and spend time on such collective activities.
For a good number of people, it was the first time they had joined, and they were excited about how things would go. The walk proceeded with the walk leader highlighting how the area was earlier a part of the Aravalli range, and a similar diversity used to exist here previously. What actually deteriorated the place where the nefarious activities were being carried out here illegally. They varied from illegal mining to trespassing and ultimately led to the dwindling of the species, both in terms of plants and animals, at a rapid rate. It was then that various organisations took things into their hand. The walk leader was also a part of the various organisations that were working towards the restoration of Asola Bhatti.
The people were bustling with questions about how such a change was brought about, and hence, he shared the efforts that were invested in the conservation. He explained that to bring about a change, the strategy was to focus on 3 crucial aspects.
- Active restoration of the forest - the first aspect of restoration, starts with protecting the land. He explained that with the efforts of the government, protection groups, NGOs, etc., the illegal activities were reduced to nil over a brief span of time. The efforts from the local people were also commendable.
- Planting native species - this cannot be done without understanding the type of soil or the land. Extensive research was carried out, which helped in figuring out species that would grow the best in this area and under such climatic conditions.
- The most crucial step is the water recharge. Illegal mining had caused a nosedive in the underground water levels in the area. Hence, the key focus was to restore the water level. The idea was to incorporate carbon within the ecosystem of the region by planting species such as bamboo. These would help in the retention of water that flows through the forests during the time of monsoon.
Besides these, a regular track was being kept of the birds, animals, and butterflies that were found in the area, and how their population was increasing as the restoration initiatives had begun. Overall, with all these efforts, Asola Bhatti gained the identity it has today. One of the unique urban biodiversity gems, it shines as a landmark in the arena of conservation and collective effort.
Further on the walk, he explained about the diverse species of trees that are found in the area. He explained the structure of trees, the reason for their specific structures, and how they make a notable difference in the ecology. On discussing the biodiversity of the place, a fact was highlighted of venomous snakes being found here, which was new for a participant, as she had usually heard non-venomous snakes being found here. The excited participants captured the beauty of the place with their lenses and asked various questions regarding how they too can be a part of these conservation efforts.
Overall, the walk was a huge success, which brought the attention of the participants towards the existence of many more such places that can be changed with due consideration. Earth Walks brings forward such tales that would change your perspective on your own city. Join us and explore the unexplored. To participate, click here https://asianadventures.info/p/af0725/