‘Matri Van’ Urban Forest Initiative Launched in Gurugram, Haryana under Van Mahotsav 2025 by Union Ministers Bhupender Yadav and Manohar Lal Khattar.

On August 2, 2025, Union Ministers Bhupender Yadav and Manohar Lal Khattar launched the ‘Matri Van’ initiative in the Aravalli Hills region of Gurugram, Haryana. Developed under the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam programme, the 750-acre forest project was launched as part of Van Mahotsav 2025 by the Haryana Forest Department.

      - The ‘Matri Van’ initiative was jointly launched by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and the Ministry of Power. This initiative forms a key highlight of Van Mahotsav 2025, India's annual tree-planting campaign observed from July 1 to 7, initiated in 1950 by former Agriculture Minister K. M. Munshi.

      - The project is a theme-based urban forest concept titled ‘Matri Van’, meaning “Mother’s Forest.” Spread over 750 acres in the Aravalli Hills, this ecological initiative aims to serve both environmental and cultural purposes. It is envisioned as a unique green space that promotes biodiversity conservation, public wellness, and urban sustainability in one of India’s most critically threatened ecological zones.

      - The forest includes dedicated ecological and thematic zones such as Bodhi Vatika (sacred fig grove), Bamboosetum (bamboo species garden), Aravalli species Arboretum, Pushp Vatika (flowering plants), Sugandh Vatika (fragrance plants), Medicinal Plants Vatika, Nakshatra Vatika (zodiac-based plants), Rashi Vatika, Cactus Garden, and Butterfly Garden. These botanical zones are designed to showcase spiritual, medicinal, and aesthetic plant diversity.

Main Point :-   (i) The Matri Van project also involves the ecological restoration of the Aravalli range by removing invasive species like Kabuli Kikar (Prosopis juliflora) and replacing them with native trees such as Dhak and Amaltash. The plantation efforts aim to restore soil quality, boost local wildlife habitats, and revive traditional flora of the region, all while increasing green cover and mitigating urban heat islands.

      (ii) Public engagement is a major component of this initiative. The urban forest will be developed through collaborative efforts involving Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributors, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), multinational corporations (MNCs), school students, and multiple government agencies, thus encouraging environmental ownership among citizens.

(iii) To support community interaction and sustainability, the forest will include public amenities such as nature trails, cycling tracks, yoga spots, seating gazebos, eco-parking facilities at four corners, and a treated water irrigation system. The project is also aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), and directly contributes to India’s non-fossil fuel commitments and long-term climate action goals.