‘Mumbai Coastal Forest an opportunity to set a benchmarch for green cover’

Mumbai: Members advocating for a Mumbai Coastal Forest along the yet-tobe-developed open spaces along the Coastal Road, showcased their nature-forward vision for the city's coastline at the Mumbai Climate Week by setting up a stall. The group presented visual renderings of how the open spaces could be transformed into publicly accessible areas rooted in ecological restoration. Their displays were accompanied by sounds of birds chirping through a music system to demonstrate creation of biodiversity. Mamta Dalal Mangaldas, core team, Mumbai Coastal Forest, said, "This city has a rare opportunity to set a benchmark for meaningful green cover. What Mumbai needs is a layered, native forest that cools the city, cleans the air, supports biodiversity and remains genuinely accessible." The BMC in May last year tied up with Reliance Industries to develop 70 hectares of open space reclaimed along the coastal road . — Richa Pinto