AGRA, May 9 -- The Uttar Pradesh Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad has taken up an eco-restoration project aimed at rejuvenating 36 ancient forests covering an area of 487 hectares, in Vrindavan.

Parishad environmental advisor Mukesh Sharma said plantation under the project has begun from the Sunrakh Reserve Forest area in Vrindavan and will be completed in three phases with an estimated cost of around Rs.90 crore.

The plan was prepared by Uttar Pradesh Teerth Vikas Parishad and forest department for eco-restoration of these sites, replacing P juliflora with native broad-leaved species.

The idea is also to weed out the fast spreading 'vilayati babool' (P Juliflora) which has been harmful both to flora and fauna of the region and turns the soi...