On August 2, 2025, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Ministry of Power (MoP) jointly launched the ‘Matri Van’ initiative, a theme-based forest, spread over 750 acres in the Aravalli Hills region in Gurugram, Haryana.
- The event was hosted by the Haryana Forest Department as a part of Van Mahotsav 2025, conducted under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ programme.
Exam Hints:
- What? ‘Matri Van’ initiative was launched
- Part of: Van Mahotsav 2025
- Programme: Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam
- Launched by: Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, (MoEFCC), and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, (MoHUA)
- Where? Aravalli Hills region in Gurugram, Haryana.
- Organizer: Haryana Forest Department
- Themes: Bodhi Vatika, Bamboosetum, Aravalli species Arboretum, Pushp Vatika, Sugandh Vatika, Medicinal Plants Vatika, Nakshtra Vatika, Rashi Vatika, Cactus Garden, and Butterfly Garden
About ‘Matri Van’ initiative:
Urban forest: ‘Matri Van’ meaning “Mother’s Forest”, is a theme-based urban forest project, envisioned as a unique ecological and cultural space that will contribute to biodiversity, public well-being, and urban sustainability.
- The project will be developed through government-public partnerships, involving collaborations with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partners, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), multinational corporations (MNCs), school students, and various government agencies.
Components: The main components of the ‘Matri Van’ initiative include the replacement of the existing bushes such as Kabuli Kikar (Prosopis juliflora) by plantation of Dhak/ Amaltash Trees, to restore the local ecology in the region.
Themes: The forest will include the trees and plants based on various themes, including
- Bodhi Vatika: Grove of Bargad, Peepak, Gullar, and Pilkhan
- Bamboosetum: Group of Bamboo species
- Aravalli species Arboretum
- Pushp Vatika: Group of Species of Flowering Plants
- Sugandh Vatika: Group of Species of fragrance
- Medicinal Plants Vatika
- Nakshtra Vatika
- Rashi Vatika
- Cactus Garden
- Butterfly Garden
Amenities: It will also include amenities such as nature trails, cycle track, yoga spots, sitting places/ gazebos, public facilities, parking at four corners, and a treated water irrigation system for conservation of water.
Alignment: The initiative aligns with the Prime Minister(PM)’s Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) and India’s non‑fossil fuel energy targets by increasing green cover and mitigating carbon emissions.
About Van Mahostav 2025:
Festival:It is a tree-planting festival, a flagship initiative by the Government of India (GoI), which was celebrated from July 1 to 7, 2025.
Origin: Launched in 1950 by then Union Minister for Agriculture KM Munshi, this national tree-planting campaign was created to promote forest conservation and foster environmental responsibility.
About the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC):
Union Minister – Bhupender Yadav (Constituency – Alwar, Rajasthan)
Minister of State (MoS) – Kirti Vardhan Singh (Constituency – Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, UP)
