Mumbai — the business capital of India and home to the Bollywood industry — is an urbanscape decked with high rises and expansive motorways. Located on the Arabian Sea coastline, with a large part of the city constructed on land reclaimed from the sea, Mumbai is no stranger to floods.

The 2005 floods were perhaps the most devastating deluge the city had seen. That year, on July 26, a cloudburst claimed almost 700 lives. Over 20,000 cars were damaged, and over 24,000 animals died. Today, July 26 is observed as the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem. But what’s the connection between mangroves and flooding?

Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees and shrubs that thrive in intertidal zones — areas where land meets the sea; the Mumbai coastline, too, is home to a vibrant mangrove ecosystem. And these trees are nature’s defence against flood-related calamities. Their dense, intricate root systems act as natural barriers, effectively dissipating wave energy and slowing down tidal surges.

Mangroves also absorb excess water, reducing the risk of flooding in coastal areas. Furthermore, the complex network of roots traps sediment and debris, stabilising shorelines and preventing erosion.

But Mumbai lost nearly 40 per cent of its mangroves between 1991 and 2001 as per several studies. Since then, concerned citizens, activists, and........

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