Last updated: June 2024
Pirojshanagar Township is an industrial and residential establishment of the company Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co Ltd (G&B), located in the Vikhroli suburb of Mumbai city along Thane creek, with diverse natural and human-made habitats (1,2). Of the 16 km2 area of the Township, approximately 12 km2 is occupied by the mangrove ecosystem and its associated habitats (1,2). Upon recognizing the importance of this ecosystem, G&B decided to prioritize the conservation of the mangroves that grew along the banks of the newly acquired land (along the Thane Creek west bank) (1,2). Pirojshanagar, with its biodiverse mangrove forest, is sandwiched between two solid waste dumping grounds of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which only increases its importance in the landscape and makes it a green oasis that acts as a carbon sink (1). It was a research-based project and the first successful mangrove conservation project in Mumbai, now serving as the Mumbai Metropolitan's green lung (1,2).
Aerial View of Godrej Mangroves
By Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited, available at https://mangroves.godrej.com/mangroves-quiz.html
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Coastlines
- Coastal wetland, mangroves and salt marshes
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change mitigation
- Coastal resilience and marine protection (SDG 14)
- Coastal protection / hazard mitigation
- Marine and coastal biodiversity protection
- Marine and coastal research and/or education
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Effective management
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
Focus
Coastal landscape management or protection, Protection of natural ecosystems, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity
Project objectives
The project emphasized the following main goals:
- To conduct a detailed research study of an ecologically sensitive area named ‘Vikhroli Mangroves: Conservation and Management'.
- To restore and conserve the mangroves that grew along the banks of the newly acquired land (Pirojshanagar Township by Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co Ltd.)
- To develop conservation and management measures to protect the ecologically sensitive area of relevant importance for improved air quality and its role as a carbon sink (1).
- To educate and create awareness regarding the importance of mangrove ecosystems and environmental conservation through various implementation tools for different groups (such as schools, colleges, citizen groups, corporate employees, professional associations and others) (1,2).
Implementation activities
The Wetland Management Services Department (WMS) of Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited (G&B) conserves the Pirojshanagar's mangroves through a three-pronged approach of research, conservation and awareness-raising (1,2). The research findings resulted in the developing a systematic approach and establishing a dedicated mangrove management team (2).
Specific activities included are as follows:
- Establishment of mangrove nurseries.
- Regular peripheral plantations and use of the fishbone technique for 80 acres of mangrove plantation. This technique ensured good circulation of water, leading to a lowering of salinity.
- Development of 3 thematic gardens to engage visitors to the mangroves while supporting local biodiversity via local food chains.
- Planning 5 nature trails with pathways closely interacting with the Pirojshanagar mangroves.
- Development of the first mobile app in Asia with 67 true mangrove and mangrove associate species in 11 languages.
- Development of children's storybook on mangroves in English and Marathi language.
- Development of the first Marathi language website on mangroves.
- Development of a marine aquarium as a tool to sensitize visitors on marine fish diversity within mangroves.
- Development of a mangrove information center with a collection of books, magazines, research reports, conference proceedings and other publications on various aspects of mangrove ecosystems.
- Awareness through outdoor and indoor activities to encourage citizen science action (outdoor activities = documentation of plant diversity and wildlife photography, bird and butterfly watching, interactive and educational games and participatory planting programmes and indoor activities = film screenings, quizzes, presentations, talks and exploration of the mangrove information center)
- Initiation of the first mangrove awareness campaign across eight coastal states of India (1,2).
G&B also carries out water treatment, recycling, and ‘zero waste to landfill’ initiatives to control pollution. (2)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Protect coastal and freshwater ecosystems to prevent coastal erosion and pollution
Climate change mitigation:
- Implement sustainable forest management measures to increase carbon sinks/ improve carbon storage
- Improve carbon sequestration through selection of more adaptable species
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect native species
- Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
- Means for conservation governance
- Raise public awareness
- Public engagement
- Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Private sector/Corporate/Company
- Researchers/University
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Private sector/corporate actor/company
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Taskforce groups
- Dissemination of information and education
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Co-management/Joint management
- Citizen monitoring and review
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co Ltd (G&B) acquired several hundred acres of land in Vikhroli to set up an Industrial Garden Township in 1948. Upon recognizing the importance of this ecosystem, decided to prioritize the conservation of the mangroves starting in 1985 with the creation of the Soonabai Pirojsha Godrej Foundation (Ref. 1, 2).
"The Soonabai Pirojsha Godrej Marine Ecology Centre, which was setup, focussed on the conservation of this ecologically sensitive area, bringing all of the land with mangrove cover under protection." (Ref. 2). As part of its work, the Wetland Management Services (WMS) was created, lending conservation efforts a distinct identity and adequate resources.
"Almost 50 years later, around the early 2000s, the health of the mangrove ecosystem and its biodiversity were clearly visible, and G&B decided to extend their research and outreach to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region by appointing a dedicated Education Officer. Subsequently, NGOs and CBOs, academic and research institutes, citizen forums and other stakeholders became involved" (Ref. 2).
Specific activities undertaken in this project (structured by the responsible actor involved):
1. NGO's: Facilitating NGO awareness programmes on Godrej mangroves.; Facilitating NGO visits to Godrej nursery for exposure and learning.; Participating in horticultural competitions organized by NGOs.; Engaging expert and authorized NGOs in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.; Supporting NGO drives through donations, employee volunteering and technical support.; Collaborating on awareness programmes (Ref. 2)
2. Research institutes: Collaborating in in-situ and ex-situ biodiversity research.; Sharing expertise.; Providing financial support for collaborative research (2).
3. Academic institutes (schools and colleges): Running mangrove awareness programmes in Godrej campus.; Encouraging student research projects on biodiversity in the Godrej campus.; Providing financial, logistics and technical support to academic conferences and seminars.; Conducting presentations and poster exhibitions in academic institutes (2).
4. Business consortiums: Sponsoring biodiversity-related events or sessions.; Facilitating and conducting collaborative initiatives, such as the India Business and Biodiversity Forum.; Sharing expertise and delivering presentations in conferences and seminars (2).
5. Godrej customers, vendors and other supply chain links: Updating stakeholders on biodiversity management during vendor and other meetings.; Encouraging good practices such as plantations, responsible waste management and water conservation.; Awarding stakeholders for biodiversity conservation initiatives (2)
6. Citizens and other stakeholders: Developing mangroves mobile app for mangrove species identification and ecosystem awareness.; Running popular articles in newspapers and magazines, and interviews on radio channels.; Conducting mangrove awareness programmes (in-situ and ex-situ).; Running Godrej Mangroves Facebook group for awareness and engagement (2)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
No
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(Besides internal policies from G&B (which guides mangrove protection, enhancement and management), national legal frameworks and policies, such as the Wildlife Conservation Act of 1972, CRZ Notification of 2018 and the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act of 2016, support the mangrove greening and its protection (Ref. 2).)
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Corporate investment
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Enhanced carbon sequestration
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Increased protection against flooding
- Enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
- Stimulate development in deprived areas
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased sustainability of agriculture practices
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
- Safety
- Improved community safety to climate-related hazards
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Joshi, Tejashree. Godrej's Pirojshanagar Mangroves. Mumbai: Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited, available at Source link (accessed 06-01-2023)
2. Fernandes, Rithika. Panwar, Vishakha. Sen, Monalisa. (2022). Nature-based Solutions for urban climate resilience in South Asia: Cases from Bangladesh, India and Nepal. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. ICLEI South Asia, available at Source link (accessed 06-01-2023)
3. Deshpande, Laxmikant. (2022). Godrej Mangroves: Symbiosis of Industry & Nature since Seven Decades. Godrej & Boyce Mfg Co Ltd, available at Source link (accessed 06-01-2023)
4. The CSR Journal. (2022). Godrej & Boyce working for conservation of mangroves in India. By The CSR Journal, available at Source link (accessed 06-01-2023)
5. Bagli, K. (2019) Many Secrets of Mangroves - First ever Story Book on mangroves. Available at: Source link (accessed 23-02-2023)
6. Mangroves by Godrej & Boyce (2023). Mangroves: First Mobile App on mangroves. Available at: Source link (accessed 23-02-2023)
2. Fernandes, Rithika. Panwar, Vishakha. Sen, Monalisa. (2022). Nature-based Solutions for urban climate resilience in South Asia: Cases from Bangladesh, India and Nepal. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. ICLEI South Asia, available at Source link (accessed 06-01-2023)
3. Deshpande, Laxmikant. (2022). Godrej Mangroves: Symbiosis of Industry & Nature since Seven Decades. Godrej & Boyce Mfg Co Ltd, available at Source link (accessed 06-01-2023)
4. The CSR Journal. (2022). Godrej & Boyce working for conservation of mangroves in India. By The CSR Journal, available at Source link (accessed 06-01-2023)
5. Bagli, K. (2019) Many Secrets of Mangroves - First ever Story Book on mangroves. Available at: Source link (accessed 23-02-2023)
6. Mangroves by Godrej & Boyce (2023). Mangroves: First Mobile App on mangroves. Available at: Source link (accessed 23-02-2023)
Maharashtra’s first large-scale mangrove plantation at Pirojshanagar by Godrej
By Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited, available at http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/file/NbS%20Compendium.pdf
Undertaking plantations
By Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited, available at http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/file/NbS%20Compendium.pdf
A capture from the camera trap study of wildlife at Godrej mangroves
By Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited, available at http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/file/NbS%20Compendium.pdf
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the "NBS 2022" UNA Asian extension project funded by the Asia-Europe Foundation.