It was restored in 2014–16 on 87 hectares of Kamla Nehru Ridge (also called Northern Ridge) near Delhi University.[1][6] The ridge was infested with the invasive species of prosopis juliflora (Vilayati Babul or Kikar of Mexican origin), which were planted in the 1920s by the Britisher colonisers to rehabilitate the wasteland. Prosopis juliflora has caused the depletion of the water table due to its 15-m-deep root system, resulting in the death of 450 native species as well as the biodegradation of the flora and fauna. With the view to reintroduce 5,000 native plant species which existed 150 years ago in the ridge, the Vilayati Kikar was replaced with 15 native plant species in 2014.[7] Additional 3-layered native plant species are being planted.[6]
Flora
Some of the native species being replanted at several Delhi ridges to replace the invasive Vilayati Kikar include mahua, haldu, sheesham, bael, other shrubs and grasses.[7][8]