As 2024 comes to a close, the advocators of wetlands and mangroves in Navi Mumbai are bidding farewell to the year with a hopeful eye toward 2025. Their New Year resolutions centre on a determined push for better environmental protection laws, enforcement, and a shift in the attitude of city authorities toward safeguarding these vital ecosystems.

Sunil Agarwal, founder of the Save Navi Mumbai Environment Group and a resident of NRI Complex, has spent over a decade championing the cause of wetlands and mangroves. Reflecting on the year gone by, Agarwal notes several achievements:

1. Mangrove Protection: The group successfully halted mangrove cutting at T.S. Chanakya, with two FIRs registered for violations reported via mangrovesuraksha.com.
2. Chalo Chanakya Protest: The citizen-led protest to save T.S. Chanakya Lake was recognized as a significant movement at the inaugural Civic Summit in Bangalore, organized by Citizen Matters.
3. Wetlands Photography: Photographs by members Vidyasagar Hariharan and Shree Kumar Krishnan were displayed at a global exhibition in Dubai, highlighting the beauty and importance of Navi Mumbai's wetlands.
4. CIDCO Exposé: Advocates from the team filed complaints leading to on-site inspections, exposing CIDCO's misinformation about wetlands in Nerul.
5. Supreme Court Victory: The apex court reaffirmed protection for wetlands over 2.25 hectares, as listed in the National Wetlands Atlas.
6. PIL Progress: Arguments were concluded in PIL 168 of 2022 in the Bombay High Court, which challenges illegalities in the construction of nine PBRs on land notified under CRZ I and II. A favorable verdict is anticipated in 2025.

Nandakumar Pawar, founder of Sagar Shakti and a resident of Uran, has similarly worked tirelessly to protect wetlands and mangroves. His resolutions for the new year emphasize addressing pressing issues such as removing illegal debris dumped into CRZ areas, ensuring free tidal water flow, transferring mangrove stretches to the forest department for better management, and implementing CCTV surveillance to safeguard these areas. Pawar also advocates for mapping intertidal mudflats, controlling pollution by enforcing MPCB guidelines, and preventing industrial development in ecologically sensitive zones.

Naturalist-writer-photographer Sunjoy Monga believes that real progress requires a fundamental shift in the mindset of those in planning and governance. "The spirit of those trying to protect these last remnants of wetland wealth is commendable, but true change demands education, awareness, and appreciation for this natural heritage," he said. Monga stresses the importance of recognizing the intrinsic value of wetlands for the ecological health of the Mumbai region.

Photographer Vidyasagar Hariharan, known for his stunning captures of flamingos and other migratory birds at Navi Mumbai’s wetlands, plans to use his lens to continue raising awareness about urban wetlands. He aims to showcase the biodiversity of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region on global platforms, inspiring a broader audience to support conservation efforts.