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Godrej Enterprises Group Launches Mangrove Coalition to Safeguard Urban Coastal Ecosystems

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New Delhi, July 24, 2025: Godrej Enterprises Group, in collaboration with leading academic and non-profit organizations, has announced the formation of the Mangrove Coalition, an alliance aimed at protecting and restoring mangrove ecosystems in India’s coastal cities.

The coalition includes the Soonabai Pirojsha Godrej Foundation, WRI India, WWF India, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), the Natural Capital Project at Stanford, and Conservation International. It will focus on promoting integrated conservation strategies that combine natural capital valuation, community participation, and citizen science to enhance resilience in urban environments.

Initial efforts will target mangrove ecosystems in Mumbai and Chennai, which face mounting pressure from rapid urbanization, climate change, and land-use conflicts. The coalition aims to promote nature-based solutions in these vulnerable cities.

“In the heart of our cities lie the roots of resilience. Mangroves are not just ecological buffers—they are carbon vaults, biodiversity sanctuaries, and silent sentinels protecting millions,” said Nyrika Holkar, Executive Director, Godrej Enterprises Group. “With this coalition, we hope to bring together science, policy, and people to navigate the complex trade-offs of conserving these critical ecosystems in urban India. By using technologies like satellite mapping, drones and geospatial AI, we can monitor mangrove health and quantify impact on the blue carbon ecosystem more effectively.”

Madhav Pai, CEO of WRI India, emphasized the role of local communities in conservation: “Mangroves are living infrastructure, but their protection hinges on people. Empowering coastal communities to act as stewards is key to long-term conservation success. Through education, engagement, and inclusive planning, we can foster a sense of ownership that makes mangrove conservation a shared urban responsibility.”

Highlighting the economic rationale behind mangrove preservation, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chair of MSSRF, said, “Mangroves provide invaluable services like storm protection, carbon storage, and fisheries support that often go unaccounted for in urban planning. By quantifying these benefits, we can make a stronger case for their preservation and restoration and promote policies that balance development with ecological integrity.”

Dr. Sejal Worah, Programme Director at WWF India, added, “Engaging citizens to monitor mangrove health creates a deeper connection between urban populations and their natural surroundings. Citizen science not only provides important information but also builds a culture of environmental responsibility among diverse stakeholders.”

The coalition plans to focus on scientific research, policy development, community outreach, and the introduction of a fellowship program to foster local leadership in conservation. The initiative builds on Godrej’s existing commitment to mangrove preservation, which began in 1985 with the formation of the Soonabai Pirojsha Godrej Foundation. Educational efforts like the "Magical Mangroves" program have already reached thousands of young people in coastal areas.

The Mangrove Coalition represents a strategic move toward strengthening climate resilience in India’s coastal cities through science-based, community-driven conservation.

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