Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who announced the move on Friday, said this centre will be a big help to people as well as nature lovers to understand and promote conservation of mangroves.
Awareness related to mangroves in the city will get a major boost. Soon, a full-fledged mangrove research and training centre will be set up at the Maharashtra Nature Park (MNP) in Dharavi.
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who announced the move on Friday, said this centre will be a big help to people as well as nature lovers to understand and promote conservation of mangroves.
As per the plan, a plot of 1.5 acres at MNP will be demarcated for this centre, proposal for which has already been moved and is awaiting final clearances. It will be managed by the State Mangrove Cell, which has 15,000 hectares of mangrove forest under its jurisdiction and is in-charge of protection and rejuvenation of mangroves across Maharashtra.
"This centre will house a well laid out interpretation arena that will educate people not only about mangroves but also coastal bio-diversity in an interactive way as well as have a library with books and documents relating to mangroves and other marine subjects," said chief conservator of forest and head of the State Mangrove Cell N Vasudevan.
According to him, this centre will also act as a base for researchers who want to conduct a study on mangroves as well as will present a different kind of 'biodiversity' for visitors coming to MNP. "This place will also house a mangrove nursery where one can find different types and species of mangroves," said Vasudevan, adding that even training for staff and awareness programmes and events related to wetlands for the public will be conducted on a regular basis at this proposed centre.
Harish Pandey who has been successful in saving mangroves along the Dahisar and Borivli belt said it was an extremely positive move. "This centre will have an extremely important role to play in the long-term conservation of mangroves, as Mumbai, though surrounded by a lot of mangroves, lacks a centre people could visit to get acquainted with the shrubs," he said, adding that the proposed centre should also teach nature lovers how to do mangrove plantation and should also supply mangrove saplings.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "dna")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}