Urban ecology and climate resilience, a newly inaugurated 3.5-acre urban forest in Marol, Andheri East, has already demonstrated a remarkable capacity to mitigate local heat, registering a temperature reduction of nearly 4°C.
The Mahatapasvi Acharya Shri Mahashramanji Garden, officially opened on Monday after a two-year transformation of a once-barren plot, stands as a compelling model for future urban green spaces, with officials projecting that similar initiatives could collectively lower Mumbai’s overall temperatures by 3–4°C within the next five years, offering a tangible solution to the growing challenge of urban heat islands. This impactful green space was a collaborative effort between the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Marol Co-operative Industrial Estate, with technical expertise provided by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and lead consultancy by Studio Pipeelikaput. This partnership underscores the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in creating sustainable and climate-resilient urban environments, particularly in densely populated and industrialised areas like Andheri.
The garden’s design prioritises the integration of native plant species carefully selected from nearby ecological zones, including the Aarey Forest, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, and Ranibagh. Over 100 diverse species were planted, encompassing various types of bamboo and fruit-bearing trees such as mango, jackfruit, papaya, and banana. This deliberate selection aims to bolster local biodiversity, create a thriving habitat for birdlife, and establish a self-sustaining ecosystem through a balanced mix of trees, shrubs, grasses, and medicinal herbs. The plantation efforts commenced in March 2024, highlighting the relatively rapid impact of well-planned urban afforestation. Remarkably, within just two months of planting, the burgeoning vegetation had matured sufficiently to exert a tangible influence on the local microclimate. Temperature measurements meticulously recorded across the 3.5-acre site revealed that areas with dense tree canopy exhibited a significant cooling effect, with temperatures dropping by as much as 4°C compared to adjacent exposed zones lacking tree cover. Scientific documentation submitted to the BMC by the WRI further substantiated this cooling effect, confirming an average temperature drop of 2°C in the green patches compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. This data emphatically underscores the vital role that urban forests can play in mitigating the urban heat island effect, particularly in industrial areas that often experience elevated temperatures due to human activity and built infrastructure.
Officials have emphasised that the success and longevity of such urban greening projects across the city hinge on active citizen participation in their maintenance and stewardship. This call to action highlights the understanding that creating sustainable and liveable urban spaces is not solely the responsibility of civic bodies but requires the collective engagement and ownership of the community. The Mahatapasvi Acharya Shri Mahashramanji Garden in Andheri East serves as an inspiring example of how transforming underutilised land into vibrant urban forests can yield significant environmental benefits, enhance biodiversity, and improve the quality of life for city dwellers by directly addressing the growing challenge of urban heat and fostering a greener, more sustainable urban landscape. The potential for replicating this model across Mumbai holds the promise of a cooler, more resilient, and ecologically richer urban environment for all its inhabitants.
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