ANNOUNCEMENTS
As urban landscapes rapidly expand, the few remaining green spaces within them face intense ecological pressure. The Aravalli Biodiversity Park (ABP) in Gurugram, a restored semi-arid forest habitat in the Delhi-NCR region, stands as a crucial example of urban ecological recovery. This study explores how sound, often an overlooked ecological dimension, can provide vital insights into the park’s biodiversity and restoration status. Utilizing the emerging discipline of ecoacoustics, this research employs Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) to capture, quantify, and analyze the park’s morning soundscape across spatial and temporal dimensions. The soundscape of the park was recorded and studied between April and May 2025. Five acoustic indices, Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI), Acoustic Diversity Index (ADI), Acoustic Evenness Index (AEI), Bioacoustic Index (BIO), and Normalized Difference Soundscape Index (NDSI), were used to understand the temporal and spatial patterns of the park’s soundscape. Additionally, Power Spectral Density (PSD) analyses were utilized to assess the dominance of anthropogenic versus natural sounds. The results revealed a vibrant, species-rich soundscape in the park’s interior, dominated by early morning bird choruses. In contrast, the park’s edges, closer to roads and metro lines, displayed flattened acoustic patterns and heightened noise intrusion. Interestingly, statistical correlations indicated that while elevation exhibited a moderate influence on indices like NDSI, vegetation density (measured using NDVI) had negligible explanatory power. This suggests that terrain and proximity to human activity may shape acoustic landscapes more significantly than plant density alone. The soundscape of Aravalli Biodiversity Park reflects both the successes and vulnerabilities of ecological restoration in an urban setting. Through its integrative use of acoustic science, spatial analysis, and open-source tools, this research not only offers a blueprint for monitoring biodiversity in similar ecosystems but also underscores the importance of "listening" as a conservation strategy in the age of urbanization.
Key Words: Ecoacoustics, Acoustic Indices, Dawn Chorus, Restoration, Soundscape.
