Keep your hands green

Last Sunday, the group planted 28 saplings in the area

In a bid to restore and protect the biodiversity of Mumbai, city-based foundations Muse and Earth4ever have come together to conduct plantation drives within Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP). Mumbaikars keen to help can join in too, by volunteering with the group every Sunday morning. The first session was held last week, during which attendees planted a total of 28 saplings in the area.

Nishant Bangera

"This is the first phase we have begun with SGNP. There are invasive species of plants around the area that are spreading; these species don't allow other local species to survive. Plants like gliricidia, subabul, rain trees and gulmohar are parasites and tend to take over the area. The forest officers have given us inputs on what species to plant to overcome this problem, so we're planting those now," says Sushant Bali, team member of Earth4ever.

In addition to their plantation activities, the group also focuses on garbage collection and preservation of the area. "Mumbaikars around this forest are equally responsible for its upkeep. We are enabling mobilisation and getting citizens involved who are extremely disconnected," says Nishant Bangera, founder, Muse.

For those interested in signing up, masks and sanitizers are mandatory. Participants are also urged to wear full-length clothes, carry mosquito repellent and keep themselves hydrated throughout these drives.

On: Every Sunday
Time: 8 am to 11 am
Log on to: @musefoundationwts or @earth4everindia on Instagram