New Delhi, 23 May 2025 – On the occasion of International Day for Biodiversity, Vedanta Limited, India’s leading diversified natural resources company, reinforced its environmental commitment by announcing a strategic initiative to rejuvenate the Baghdarrah Crocodile Conservation Reserve in Udaipur, Rajasthan. Through its subsidiary Hindustan Zinc Limited, Vedanta has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Forest, Udaipur, allocating an investment of ₹5 crore towards the ecological restoration of the nearly 400-hectare reserve.
A Milestone in Public-Private Conservation Partnerships
Located in the Kaladvas Gram Panchayat, the Baghdarrah Reserve is a biologically significant zone surrounding a perennial lake and home to more than 200 avian species and a vital population of marsh crocodiles. Vedanta’s initiative aims to transform the reserve into a thriving and sustainable habitat by implementing afforestation, building water conservation infrastructure (like check dams and ponds), and enhancing eco-tourism through educational walking trails, shelters, and visitor facilities.
This partnership aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15: Life on Land, and the 2025 International Biodiversity Day theme, “Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development.”
TACO and Vedanta’s National-Scale Conservation Footprint
The crocodile conservation project is an extension of Vedanta’s flagship animal welfare initiative, The Animal Care Organization (TACO), which operates a 24×7 veterinary hospital and an Animal Birth Control Centre in Faridabad, Haryana. TACO’s outreach includes preventive care, diagnostics, and mobile emergency services for stray and injured animals.
Through its ‘Mission Vanraksha’ campaign, Vedanta has also partnered with renowned wildlife reserves including:
-
Kaziranga National Park for one-horned rhinoceros conservation
-
Ranthambore National Park and Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan for tiger habitat protection
These initiatives involve deploying anti-poaching measures, setting up surveillance infrastructure, and building facilities for frontline forest staff.
Driving Biodiversity Through Sustainable Industrial Practices
Across its business units, Vedanta has undertaken several noteworthy biodiversity initiatives:
-
Hindustan Zinc is currently transforming 16 hectares of wasteland at its Chanderiya smelter using Mycorrhiza-based afforestation, in partnership with TERI.
-
Sesa Goa has rehabilitated 200 hectares at its Sanquelim mines using agroforestry, supporting local livelihoods through medicinal plant cultivation.
-
Vedanta Aluminium developed a Biodiversity Park in Jharsuguda, Odisha, home to 30+ butterfly species, while its Avian Arena Park in Lanjigarh offers nesting zones and bird baths.
-
Cairn Oil & Gas created an 86-acre man-made mangrove ecosystem in Ravva, Andhra Pradesh, which now supports 150 bird species, smooth-coated otters, and the endangered fishing cat.
In Rajasthan, Cairn has also conducted habitat mapping and awareness campaigns for the spiny-tailed lizard, a vulnerable desert species.
Looking Ahead: 7 Million Trees by 2030
As part of its long-term vision, Vedanta has already planted over 2 million trees since FY21 and aims to plant 7 million trees by 2030, supporting the World Economic Forum’s Trillion Trees Initiative.
Vedanta has also completed biodiversity assessments for 100% of its 52 operational assets, establishing ecological baselines and targeting no net loss of biodiversity at its sites.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director of Vedanta Ltd., stated,
“Biodiversity is the heartbeat of our planet. Through TACO and our conservation efforts, we are committed to building a future where communities and ecosystems flourish together.”
Vedanta’s comprehensive efforts reflect a growing emphasis among Indian industry leaders to embed environmental sustainability into their core operations and community engagement.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.