Vashi Mangrove Restoration Marks a First, Greens Propose Walkway

Vashi, Navi Mumbai:  In a groundbreaking environmental effort, a buried mangrove zone spanning four hectares in Vashi has been successfully restored by the forest department. This marks the first-ever revival of a mangrove burial site in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), achieved by removing truckloads of debris dumped at Survey Number 17, near Vashi railway station.

NatConnect Foundation, an NGO dedicated to mangrove conservation, hailed this initiative, noting that despite a Bombay High Court ruling in 2018 mandating mangrove protection, very few sites have been restored. Environmentalists highlighted large-scale mangrove destruction across Uran, Ulwe, Kharghar, Chembur, and Sion-Panvel Highway, calling for urgent conservation efforts.

With the restoration now underway, NatConnect has proposed the development of a mangrove walkway at the site to boost awareness. This wooden trail would serve as an educational initiative while ensuring no harm to the fragile ecosystem. The NGO also suggested shifting Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s (NMMC) planned Mangrove Park to Vashi, as an alternative to setting it up in Ghansoli-Airoli, which could disturb dense mangrove patches.

Forest officials, led by Range Forest Officer Sudhir Manjare, are encouraging public engagement, inviting nature lovers to witness the restoration. Environmentalists urge authorities to implement the mangrove trail project before full regrowth, ensuring both conservation and awareness efforts move forward together.