Overview of Asita East Biodiversity Park

Biodiversity parks serve as unique ecosystems that house diverse communities. They provide significant ecological, cultural, and educational benefits to urban societies.

• The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has set up a series of biodiversity parks in Delhi, including the prominent Yamuna Biodiversity Park.
• The Asita East Biodiversity Park is an integral part of the Yamuna Biodiversity Park. It was established by the DDA under the Yamuna Riverfront Redevelopment Project.
• Previously, this area was a dumping ground and was overrun by squatters. However, it was rejuvenated by creating catchment zones, reviving the floodplain forests and grasslands, restoring natural depressions, and creating suitable habitats for both water and terrestrial birds.
• The park is situated on the eastern bank of the Yamuna river, spanning approximately 197 hectares.
• The biodiversity park is home to a wide variety of vegetation and hosts rare migratory birds.
• The park features a rejuvenated wetland of about 2.5 hectares, which provides over 60 million litres of water.

Related reading: UPSC Notes for Environment & Ecology

Further Information:

• The word ‘Asita’ is another name for the Yamuna river.
• The biodiversity parks created by the Delhi Development Authority include:

1. Aravalli Biodiversity Park
2. Northern Ridge
3. Tilpath Valley Biodiversity Park
4. Neela Hauz Biodiversity Park
5. Tughlaqabad Biodiversity Park
6. Kalindi Biodiversity Park