Making nature’s city toolkit Tools
Module 5
Community-based mangrove restoration at Thane
Creek
Name: Swarupa Sane
Roll No: 24PTPHDA24
Nirma University, Ahemdabad
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The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the
views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein
Making Nature’s City Toolkit
The Nature’s City Toolkit presents three tiers of nature-
inclusive strategies:
• Urban Strategies – policies & spatial planning to support
biodiversity and ecosystem function at the city scale.
• Site Design Strategies – how individual sites are
developed to retain nature.
• Detailed Design Strategies – practical elements like
planting, shading, or edge conditions.
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The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the 2
authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein
Nature inclusive Strategies
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The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the 3
authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein
Strategy 1: Urban Strategy –Habitat Connectivity
• Connect natural patches within cities so wildlife can
move and ecological processes can function. This
includes planning continuous corridors of vegetation or
water bodies.
• Thane Creek is a fragmented ecosystem surrounded
by highways, industrial zones, and urban settlements.
• Using a connectivity strategy can:
• Link mangrove patches, bird habitats, and wetland
corridors across Airoli, Vashi, and Sewri.
• Enable movement of aquatic species, birds, and
nutrients.
• Strengthen resilience to climate change and urban
encroachment.
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The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the 4
authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein
Strategy 2: Detailed Design Strategy –Habitat Edges
• Designing soft and ecologically active edges (rather than
sharp boundaries) between natural and human-used areas.
This includes buffer zones, filters, and gradual transitions.
• Currently, many mangrove areas face abrupt boundaries
like roads, dumping grounds, and concrete embankments.
• Creating graded edges (e.g., vegetated buffers, marshy
transition zones) can:
• Filter urban runoff before it reaches the creek.
• Provide space for salt-tolerant vegetation to grow
naturally.
• Reduce conflict between humans and nature (e.g., limit
encroachment or waste dumping).
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The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the 5
authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein
Summary
Role in NbS at
Strategy Name Type
Thane Creek
Links mangrove
Habitat habitats across
Urban Strategy
Connectivity fragmented urban
landscape
Creates ecological
buffers that reduce
Habitat Edges Detailed Design
pollution and
erosion
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The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the 6
authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein
Design Strategies That Suit Thane Creek
1. Strategy: Vegetation Structure
Design vegetation with multiple layers (e.g., ground cover,
shrubs, mid-storey, canopy) to support diverse ecological
functions.
• Many mangrove patches in Thane Creek are monospecific
or sparsely planted.
• Introducing multi-layered vegetation with native grasses,
mangroves, and salt-tolerant shrubs would:
• Improve habitat diversity for birds, insects, and aquatic
life.
• Increase carbon sequestration and soil binding capacity.
• Help buffer tidal flows and filter runoff more effectively.
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The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the 7
authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein
Design Strategies That Suit Thane Creek
2. Strategy: Water Flow and Infiltration
Manage water using natural systems — design swales,
wetlands, and permeable surfaces to enhance infiltration and
slow runoff.
• Urban drainage often releases stormwater directly into
the creek with pollutants and sediments.
• Designing bioswales or vegetated channels along creek-
side infrastructure (e.g., near roads or buildings) would:
• Improve water quality before it reaches mangroves.
• Reduce flooding and erosion during high rainfall.
• Support groundwater recharge in surrounding areas.
© URGENT
The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the 8
authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein
Design Strategies That Suit Thane Creek
© URGENT
The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the 9
authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein