Global Meet Charts Roadmap to Rejuvenate Aravalli

Udaipur Conclave Declares Aravalli a Living Ecosystem
Experts Call Aravalli India’s Climate Shield

Udaipur: Scholars and environmental thinkers from India and abroad converged in Udaipur with a shared resolve to save the Aravalli range, turning the city into a hub of dialogue on ecology, culture and sustainability. The two-day International Conclave on the Ecology, Environment and Agriculture of the Aravalli Range, held on February 7–8 at Janardan Rai Nagar Rajasthan Vidyapeeth – a deemed to be university –  as part of the Fourth World Water Conference, witnessed an unprecedented coming together of scientists, community leaders, policymakers, educators, youth representatives and international participants who declared the ancient mountain system a living ecological and cultural entity vital to India’s future.

Throughout the deliberations, speakers stressed that the Aravalli is far more than a geological formation. It is a life-supporting system that sustains water, biodiversity, agriculture, culture and human settlements. The range was described as a natural regulator of climate, a protector of soils and watersheds and the cradle of geo-cultural identities. Participants recalled that many rivers and streams rise from the Aravalli, that it replenishes groundwater aquifers and that it offers pathways of resilience and mitigation in the face of the global climate crisis. Its forests, aquifers, soils and communities together form a single continuum of life, making the protection of the Aravalli not merely an environmental necessity but a civilizational responsibility.

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The conclave highlighted the growing threats confronting the mountain system, including groundwater depletion, biodiversity loss, land degradation and unregulated mining, along with other ecologically disturbing activities. It was emphasised that development must be aligned with sustainability through circular ecological economic models, scientific regulation and attention to slope stability.

From legal and governance perspectives, participants called for a redefinition of how mountains are understood and managed. Modern tools such as satellite imagery, terrain mapping and interactive grids were advocated alongside indigenous knowledge systems in the domains of mountains, forests, agriculture and water resources. These combined approaches were seen as essential for identifying ecological corridors and watershed systems. The protection of the Aravalli was linked to constitutional values such as the right to life under Article 21, the state’s duty to protect the environment under Article 48A, the public trust doctrine and the principle of intergenerational equity.

The evolving identity of the Aravalli also formed a key strand of discussion. Speakers observed that its true character lies in the centuries-old relationships between communities and landscapes. The question of who defines such landscapes — governments, courts or local communities — led to a call for multi-level and participatory decision-making rooted in local realities.

Philosophical reflections added depth to the dialogue, urging that mountains be viewed as sacred ecological entities rather than merely as resource zones. Human relationships with nature, it was argued, must move beyond purely utilitarian and anthropocentric frameworks. These ideas drew upon the knowledge and practices of indigenous and local communities who historically lived in harmony with the Aravalli. The need for decentralised and participatory water management based on indigenous wisdom and oriented toward long-term ecological protection was repeatedly underlined.

Agriculture emerged as a central concern on the second day of the conclave. Discussions focused on the widening disconnect between youth and farming and the urgency of making agriculture dignified, innovative and economically viable. While young people are increasingly drawn toward cities and technological aspirations, many still seek meaningful livelihoods rooted in land and identity. Revitalising agriculture through efficiency, self-realisation and ecological stewardship was identified as essential to reconnect people with the Aravalli.

The conclave was led by Prof. Shiv Singh Sarangdevot, Vice Chancellor of Janardan Rai Nagar Rajasthan Vidyapeeth, who emphasised the role of universities in integrating ecological knowledge with community action. Among the prominent participants were Dr. Rajendra Singh, widely known as the “Waterman of India” for his pioneering work in reviving rivers and traditional water systems in Rajasthan; Dr. Indira Khurana, an internationally recognised water policy expert associated with the People’s Science Institute, Dehradun; Prof. Yuvaraj Singh, a scholar of environmental studies and sustainability education; and Prof. J. S. Jodha of Rajasthan Vidyapeeth, who contributed perspectives on ecology and community-based development.

International expertise was represented by Bastiaan Mohrmann, Helmut Kinzelmann and Prof. Max Kainz, who brought scientific and regenerative development approaches from Europe, along with Jonathan Durlesser, Jannis Bogdahn and Timo Friesland, who shared experiences in participatory sustainability, ecological planning and community learning models. The conclave also featured leading Indian scholars and practitioners including Dr. Anil Mehta, an environmental scientist and policy thinker on water security and environmental health; Prof. Saroj Garg, a noted economist known for his work on sustainable development and decentralised economic models; Dr. Pankaj Raval, a scholar of environmental studies and water management; Nehpal Singh, a grassroots environmental activist working on community water conservation; and Nandkishore Sharma, a community leader engaged in ecological restoration and sustainable agriculture in the Aravalli region.

Youth and field-based perspectives were represented by Kushal Rawat and Puneet Kumar, who are involved in sustainability education and community participation initiatives, ensuring that the dialogue bridged academic research with grassroots action and intergenerational responsibility.

Participants stressed that restoring the bond between nature and culture requires a people’s movement built on awareness, green employment opportunities and a long-term vision. Organic farming, soil conservation and sustainable agricultural practices were proposed as pathways to restore ecological balance while strengthening rural livelihoods. The idea of developing the Aravalli as a reference model for organic and regenerative agriculture was advanced as a demonstration of how regional economies can prosper through ecological restoration.

Economic discussions broadened the frame further. Sustainability, speakers said, must also translate into livelihoods and value creation. The conclave explored the potential for building an “Aravalli produce” identity rooted in ecological and cultural authenticity, promoting eco-retreats in villages and creating models that connect consumers with the spiritual and cultural significance of regional produce. Participants called for a shift from extractive economic models to natural capital approaches that generate continuous ecological and economic benefits.

The Aravalli was repeatedly described as critical infrastructure created by nature, with benefits extending far beyond its foothills. Illegal and unregulated mining was condemned as a one-time liquidation of a multi-generational ecological asset. A strategic shift was urged from seeing conservation as a cost to recognising it as a high-yield investment in long-term resilience. Data-driven transparency, technological validation and measurable ecological indicators were identified as essential for sound policy and planning.

Discussions also turned to decentralised and plural economic models that move beyond conventional capitalist frameworks. Circular regenerative economies, resilient local systems and strong community participation were recognised as the foundations of sustainable development in the Aravalli region.

Water emerged as the central thread binding all other concerns. Experiences shared from community-led water conservation initiatives demonstrated how decentralised structures can revive ecosystems, strengthen climate resilience and support agriculture and local economies. Low-cost water systems, people’s science and participatory watershed management were highlighted as powerful tools of regeneration.

Participants affirmed that when water flows, nature and culture flourish together, strengthening tourism, livelihoods and ecological stability. The intimate relationship between mountains, water, soil, forests and communities, they said, must guide future development planning in the Aravalli.

Technological innovation and research added another layer to the discussions. Geo-cultural mapping initiatives demonstrated how links between nature, culture, human settlements and behaviour can be documented to guide development. Digital humanities, participatory resource mapping, design studios and community learning were presented as tools to create holistic knowledge systems that prevent displacement and ecological destruction. These efforts aim to integrate indigenous knowledge systems into education, planning and policy frameworks at national and global levels.

Scientific research on water purification and environmental health further reinforced the importance of technological interventions to improve water quality and protect ecosystems, while stressing that advanced science must work hand in hand with local ecological knowledge.

The conclave also examined the global importance of rare earth elements and mineral resources, acknowledging the ecological, social and political complexities of extraction. While recognising their role in energy transition and infrastructure development, participants insisted that resource use must be guided by environmental justice, transparency and long-term sustainability, integrating scientific research with local knowledge and community participation.

A shared understanding finally emerged that the Aravalli must be recognised as an ecological corridor, a cultural landscape and a living system that regulates regional climate, recharges groundwater aquifers, sustains river flows, supports biodiversity, serves as a green lung and acts as a shield against the expansion of the desert. As a creator of an ecosystem, its ecological integrity must be revitalised through integrated governance, sustainable agriculture, water conservation, scientific mapping and active community participation, with special emphasis on engaging the youth.

As a concrete step forward, Janardan Rai Nagar Rajasthan Vidyapeeth, a deemed-to-be university, announced that it will lead a sustained programme of awareness and active youth participation across the Aravalli region. The initiative will involve 20 universities, 40 colleges and 100 schools through campaigns, educational programmes, field engagement and community partnerships aimed at strengthening ecological stewardship and cultural responsibility toward the Aravalli ecosystem.

The declaration committed participants to creating a geo-cultural map of the Aravalli, propagating organic farming across the range and expanding community-based rejuvenation work throughout the mountain system. Governments, academic institutions, civil society, communities and international partners were called upon to collaborate in protecting the Aravalli as a shared heritage and living ecosystem.

The conclave resolved to work toward development pathways that strengthen water security, protect biodiversity, revitalise agriculture, preserve geo-cultural diversity and ensure that the Aravalli continues to sustain human life and environmental balance for generations to come.

– global bihari bureau