NatConnect cautions against reckless destruction of marshes, mudflats and mangroves
assets/blog-post/NatConnect cautions against reckless destruction of marshes, mudflats and mangroves
NAVI MUMBAI: A stark warning that “wetlands are MMR’s climate insurance — and we are destroying it at our own peril” has struck a powerful chord with Gen Z.
Students and faculty members of the DY Patil deemed to be university’s School of Public Health, during their summer immersion programme, expressed deep concern over the rapid destruction of wetlands and flamingo habitats across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
The strong response came during an interactive session by NatConnect Foundation director B N Kumar at the School of Public Health, Centre of Excellence, in Nerul on Wednesday, where students actively engaged in discussions on climate risks, urban flooding and the urgent need for stronger protection of wetlands and mangroves.
Kumar cautioned that reckless destruction of marshes, mudflats and mangroves is steadily dismantling the region’s natural defence system against floods and climate shocks.
What began as an academic presentation soon evolved into an intense exchange on ecological degradation, official accountability and citizen participation, with several students questioning why wetlands continue to disappear despite repeated scientific warnings, court interventions and environmental regulations.
Many participants voiced concern over the degeneration of wetlands across Navi Mumbai due to reclamation, infrastructure pressure, pollution and unchecked urbanisation. Students also sought practical suggestions on how communities could be sensitised to the importance of wetlands and how authorities could be made more accountable for environmental violations.
“The most encouraging aspect was the concern shown by the younger generation,” Kumar said after the session. “Students were asking difficult questions on enforcement failures, ecological destruction and what ordinary citizens can do to protect wetlands before it becomes too late.”
Kumar explained how wetlands act as natural flood buffers by absorbing excess rainwater, reducing storm surges, preventing coastal erosion and recharging groundwater. He warned that replacing wetlands with concrete was directly increasing urban flood vulnerability across MMR.
“We keep replacing nature’s sponge with concrete and then wonder why cities drown,” he remarked during the interaction.
The presentation also highlighted the ecological significance of mangroves, mudflats and flamingo habitats in Navi Mumbai, Thane Creek and Uran. Kumar explained that flamingos and migratory water birds play a vital ecological role by controlling algae, larvae and aquatic organisms while naturally maintaining nutrient circulation within wetland ecosystems.
Students and faculty members also evinced strong interest in the “Climate Action Now” (CAN) campaign launched recently by NatConnect Foundation in association with several environmental and citizen groups on the occasion of World Environment Day.
The campaign aims to transform climate concern into coordinated citizen action across MMR, focusing on wetlands, mangroves, biodiversity conservation and sustainable urban planning.
Participants also showed keen interest in the proposed “Flamingo Blue Carbon Urban Complex” vision that seeks to connect wetlands, mangroves, mudflats, flamingo habitats and tidal creeks across MMR into an integrated climate-resilience network.
Kumar explained the concept of blue carbon and how mangroves and wetlands absorb and store massive quantities of atmospheric carbon while simultaneously protecting cities from floods and climate disasters.
He stressed that wetlands should no longer be viewed as “vacant land waiting for construction” but as living ecological infrastructure essential for Mumbai’s future survival.
Faculty members appreciated the effort to connect environmental science with public health and urban resilience, noting that climate-linked ecological degradation would increasingly impact water security, disease patterns and overall quality of urban life.
The session concluded with a call for stronger community participation, environmental awareness and institutional accountability to protect MMR’s rapidly disappearing wetlands before future climate shocks become irreversible.
