World Environment Day 2025: Mumbai naturalists share their dreams for the city

Renee Vyas senior naturalist 70My first spark I was pursuing a field Botany course at the Bombay Natural History Society in the 2000s for which I would spend time in the Aarey Forest Sanjay Gandhi National Park and the coasts of Mumbai Morning walkers at these spots would often ask us to identify their favourite trees and plants in the area I realised that many Mumbaikars are unaware of the cityrsquos green wealth which sparked my journey in science communicationRenee Vyas conducts a nature education sessionMy ideal green weekend A walkthrough of the Mumbai Zoo followed by the Heritage Garden in PowaiMessage for the new generation Get yourself out there and learn about the diverse flora and fauna of Mumbai Discuss and ask questions to everyone around you and then make it your mission to spread the knowledge as far as you canMust reads Trees of Mumbai by Marselin Almeida and Naresh Chaturvedi Butterflies of Mumbai by Nelson Rodrigues The Book of Indian Birds by Dr Salim AliThe 70yearold naturalist climbs a tree PICS COURTESYRENEE VYASWhat keeps me going At 70 I am just as excited when I come across a pretty butterfly a spider or a familiar tree Thanks to the field work Irsquom still physically capable of climbing a few trees in Aarey Forest and at Maharashtra Nature ParkA flower basket from Vyasrsquos recent nature trailIshaan Prabhudesai BSc student and trail leader 19My first spark I grew up watching wildlife from around the world on Animal Planet The question of what Mumbai was hiding was always simmering in my mind When I headed to a marine walk in Juhu I spotted my first marine creatures mdash baby eels hermit crabs and horseshoe limpets mdash I was blown away I soon started interning with a naturalist collective and now I lead trails to spread the joy among MumbaikarsIndian pitta PICS COURTESYWIKIMEDIA COMMONSMy ideal green weekend Two visually striking birds mdash the Indian Pitta known for its ninecoloured plumage and the Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher aka Khandya mdash can be sighted this season While the former can be spotted on trails in Karjat the Khandya is common in the Karnala Bird SanctuaryMessage for the older generation Please stop building vacation homes in areas with lush green covers and taking pride in it These areas are home to thriving ecosystems that the next generation might never get to seeThe White Rumped Shama common sighting at Matheran Hill PICs COURTESYISHAAN PRABHUDESAIMust reads Birds of the Indian Subcontinent by Richard Grimmet A Naturalistrsquos Guide to the Reptiles of India by Indraneil Das and Abhijit DasWhat keeps me going Each trek entails a 4km walk on an average It keeps me fit and inculcates a sense of discipline that a lot of young individuals struggle withIshaan Prabhudesai at TS Chanakya wetlands in Navi MumbaiPlay your partgtgt Gift greenGet your hands on the Bombay Natural History Societyrsquos ceramic mugs water bottles and tote bags sporting Mumbairsquos avian icon William the hornbill The memorabilia combo is on a special discount this week TILL June 7AVAILABLE shopbnhsorgCOST Rs 699 threepiece combogtgt Walk the talkA timely talk by Lubaina Rangwala associate director of the World Resources Institute will reveal the complexities of framing a climate action plan for the Maximum CityON Today 1120 amAT Valecha Hall Vidyanidhi Marg Sainath Nagar JuhuLOG ON TO krviaENTRY RSVP mandatorygtgt Plant a changeBegin your gardening journey by planting your first microgreens below at this workshopON Today 9 amAT Maharashtra Nature Park SionCALL 8976451433ENTRY Revealed on requestgtgt Clean sweepThe Sanjay Gandhi National Park is in for a squeakyclean scrubbing Join hands with volunteers for a productive morningON Today 7 am to 9 amMEETING POINT NIC Amphitheatre Sanjay Gandhi National Park Borivali Eastgtgt Get handsonJoin a series of workshops that will guide you in making DIY planters and shaping clay animal models followed by a naturethemed treasure huntON Today 1030 am onwardsAT Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya FortLOG ON TO csmvsENTRY RSVP mandatory