Mumbai: Save Hanging Garden campaign evolves into community-led biodiversity conservation movement

Malabar Hill residentsrsquo Save Hanging Garden campaign which had its genesis in 2023 protests over the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC decision to axe 389 trees to demolish and reconstruct the ageing Malabar Hills reservoir has morphed into communityled nature bonding initiatives involving birding tree appreciation and butterfly walksThese initiatives aim to raise awareness about the natural wealth the garden presents and mobilise support to protect the flora and preserve the gardenPervin Sanghvi Malabar Hill resident involved with Save Hanging Garden campaign since Day 1Pervin Sanghvi a resident of Malabar Hill who has been actively involved in the Save Hanging Garden campaign since it started said ldquoI realised there was a need to raise awareness about the heritage value of this parkrsquos flora and fauna So I began to reach out to a lot of naturebased groups to host activities for whoever wants to sign up for these walksrdquoBetween 2023 and 2026 various groups have coordinated with the residents and organised 13 such nature walks ldquoA Bengalurubased organisation Natural Conservation Foundation started an initiative called lsquoSeasonWatchrsquo at Hanging Gardenrdquo Sanghvi said Trinannual Tree Festivals are held in collaboration with the foundation which are free of costVisitors enjoy themselves amid the flora of Hanging Garden at Malabar Hill in South Mumbai on Tuesday PicAshish RajeMeanwhile in 2026 alone three excursions called Tree Appreciation Walks were organised in January March and August The latest in the series is a Butterfly Walk planned for Saturday morningThe campaignIn September 2023 Hanging Gardenrsquos regular morning walkers spotted BMC treecutting notices pasted on 389 trees in the open space including over80yearold specimensButterfly species that call Hanging Garden their homeThe BMC had originally planned to demolish Hanging Garden and reconstruct the 160yearold Malabar Hill reservoir after a 2017 structural audit indicated some of its columns and chambers had weakened The residents then started the SaveHangingGarden campaign to protect the reservoir and trees in its precinctRare beautyGaurav Soman a Mulundbased naturalist and biotechnologist who is hosting Saturday morningrsquos event said ldquoAt Hanging Garden I have managed to map about 40 species of butterflies ever since I held Butterfly Walks in 2024 Residents who click photos and also monitor the biodiversity at this park have spotted around 70 species Hanging Garden has a very unique personality as it is surrounded by greenery and is atop a hill so the air is cleanerrdquoScenes from nature walks organised by local residents and hosted by various naturebased groups as part of the Save Hanging Garden campaign PicsBy Special ArrangementlsquoTrying to minimise footprintrsquoFollowing the protests BMC altered its original plan opting to repair and restore the reservoir However while its individual chambers are being restored water storage in each of them has to be paused and the BMC said it needs to construct an additional storage tank to hold water ensuring uninterrupted supply to parts of South MumbaiThe alternative tank will have the capacity of 52 million litres and will be constructed behind Hanging Garden A senior civic official told midday ldquoWe have designed a tank in an uneven way and shape so as to minimise its footprint on the gardenHowever 8090 out of the original 389 trees will be impacted The need of this additional reservoir to store water during the restoration has been ascertained through a study by IIT Roorkee It will also be used permanently to enhance the storage capacity of water in the areardquolsquoIt is our responsibilityrsquoKatie Bagli a nature enthusiast childrenrsquos book writer and botany expert who conducts knowledge walks at green pockets across the city and who conducted the Tree Appreciation Walk in January 2024 said ldquoHanging Garden has a large variety of old heritage trees and beautiful bushes and shrubsThis is our natural heritage even though it may not have the stamp of a heritage item such as a building would They also promote and sustain birds insects frogs and reptiles It is exactly what a city like Mumbai needs with so much pollution It is our responsibility to protect this heritagerdquoEvents organised since 20231 Loving Meditation for the Trees December 20232 Tree Appreciation Walk with Katie Bagli January 20243 A Morning of Gratitude with the members of Sri Aurobindo Society February 20244 Poetry Circle and Book Reading August 20245 A Talk on Conserving Urban Trees with Robert Fernandes horticultural consultant October 20246 Birding Trail with Adesh Shivkar November 20247 Butterfly Walk January 20258 Tree Appreciation Walk March 20259 Tree Appreciation Walk November 202510 Tree Appreciation Walk January 202611 Tree Appreciation Walk March 202612 Tree Appreciation Walk August 202613 Butterfly Walk September 2026