International Day of Forests: Mumbai's eco-warriors dive into how the city treats its jungle

Once upon a forestAklesh Sutar musician and antideforestation activistMy earliest memory from the forest is swimming in the Bangoda lake with no care in the world The swims would always be followed by fishing for catfish and spending time observing the bugs and snakes on the banksAklesh Sutar extreme left and Prakash Bhoir in red ideate for their upcoming project PIC COURTESYAKLESH SUTAROne day we found our route to the lake blocked with metal sheets mdash it was the first warning sign of infrastructural change The forests have shrunk and its residents have since adapted albeit unhappily The mud houses soon gave way to metal sheet homes but the tribals continue to strive for that life we once hadWorld Forest Day today should be a reminder that green cover not only in Mumbai but states like Uttarakhand and Goa stand the risk of being uprooted for wider highways in the near future I am currently collaborating with Warli artist and activist Prakash Bhoir to write and compose protest songs on the subjectFood for thoughtManisha Dhinde researcherManisha Dhinde places a sign that says Save Forest on a tree during a trail PICS COURTESYMANISHA DHINDEAs a Warli resident of Aarey I realised that the city is still oblivious to many of the invaluable cultural treasures the forest hides This Holi we invited urban residents to see how palash hibiscus bhringraj and other plants have been used as natural colours for centuries by the Warlis Itrsquos a family affair now with my brother who plays the traditional tarpa lending a helping hand on these walksA moment from the natural Holi celebrations in the forestAt a recent walk we picked wild produce and cooked a meal the tribal way with earthen stoves out in the wild Once yoursquove tried the bamboo shoot stew with fresh bhakri and ambadi a plant grown for its edible leaves chutney you realise that the forest is much more than just the trees its home to a melting pot of culturesWild flowers and fruits foraged from the forestYoung and wildAparna Bangia environmentalist Youth For AareyMembers plant native plants PIC COURTESYAPARNA BANGIAWe recently led a trail for school students from South Mumbai who arrived with a word of caution from their teachers their attention spans were limited But once they walked the trail with a clear blue sky above them and butterflies fluttering by they asked us questions wrote poems and sketched for hours If Mumbairsquos AQI is taking a toll on your lungs yoursquoll be surprised at how much you can explore on foot in the forest without gasping for breathAparna BangiaTo keep it that way we are now working on a restoration project in hamlets in the forest with ecorestoration practitioner Reema Shah Nonnative acacia trees possibly planted by uninformed groups in all good faith years ago are being swapped out for native species of trees shrubs and grass with due consultation of the tribesPlant a seedUjwal Vhatkar naturalist and nature educatorIt is shocking to learn that many Mumbaikars donrsquot realise how lucky we are to have a natural forest thriving in the heart of the city You can never get enough of the forest Therersquos a good reason you hear news of species that havenrsquot been sighted in more than 100 years emerging from some nook of the forest from time to time I am now exploring the Chenna region of the forest in North Mumbai to study its biodiversity The onus to spark an interest for the cityrsquos flora and fauna lies completely on the parents I wish more parents gave the iPads and screens a break and stepped out in the wild with usWhere to beginSign up for these expertled beginnersrsquo trails in Mumbairsquos green lungsgtgt Birding for beginnersON March 23 8 amAT Main Gate SGNP Yeoor ManpadaCALL 8591382079COST Rs 250gtgt Shilonda TrailON March 23 645 amAT Nature Interpretation Centre SGNP Borivali EastCALL 7738778789COST Rs 450gtgt Forest walkON Available on demand for groups of fiveAT Bombay Natural History Society CEC GoregaonLOG ON TO meehir_pawarCOST Revealed on request