Delhi's winged guests get a green house

CAPITAL WELCOME: This lush paradise was a wasteland just few years ago.

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New Delhi: Every winter nearly 5000 birds flock to a unique space in the capital - the Yamuna biodiversity Park - a storehouse for Delhi’s flora and fauna. The park is critical for over 14 species of birds that visit the city every winter.

But this lush paradise was a wasteland just few years ago. Reviving the Yamuna ecosystem was crucial given that 80 per cent of the vegetation was fast vanishing and the Park - established in 2002 by Delhi University and Delhi Development Authority – helped.

“When we came here, we found nothing but saltpans. There was a huge amount of salt in the area. Then came the concept of wetlands and we created one here. We also created mounds representative of various ecosystems and they are flourishing,” says Dr Faiyaz of the Yamuna Biodiiversity Park.

A proof that the park is thriving is winged guests like

• The spot bill duck, all the way from China.
• The slim and long necked northern pintail, comes from North America.
• The northern shoveler from northern Europe.
• And the red crested pochard, a large diving duck comes from Europe.

The initiative has already revived 75 of the 200 odd aquatic flora that were battling extinction. Among the rare species that can now be found at this biodiversity park are plants like climber and brahma buti.

In a city with vanishing green spaces, the Yamuna Bidiversity Park is proving to be an oasis.