Nagotanekar Shraddha Sanjay Sheetal

LA4004

Now a Ramsar site (2022), Thane Creek is flanked by two heavily urbanized areas on both banks, Mumbai on the western bank and Navi Mumbai on the eastern bank. It is facing immense anthropogenic pressures from urbanization in recent times. Be it the discharge of industrial effluents, the leachate from the dump yards, or the construction of infrastructure projects such as the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MHTL). The migratory Lesser and Greater Flamingos flock on these polluted mudflats as they form their feeding grounds. Bioaccumulation of these pollutants is affecting the overall ecology of Thane Creek wherein evidence of Iron, Mercury and Arsenic were found in the feathers of Flamingos, Brown-headed gulls and Black kites. The project focuses on minimizing the effects of urbanization on the ecology of Thane Estuarine Creek and demonstrating how a holistic, resilient, ecological approach to the Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary Development Plan can be adopted. The project ‘Symbiotic Rhythms of Thane Creek’ aims at reinstating ecological services, habitat enhancement, biodiversity conservation, mangrove management, restoration of degraded habitats, pollution mitigation, participatory eco-tourism and the promotion of community-based resilience initiatives. The integrated and sustainable management of the creek is achieved with the active participation of all the stakeholders involved.