Greening Mumbai from the Inside

Gardens, Solid waste and Renewable Resources.

A PROPOSAL TO GREEN MUMBAI THROUGH ECOLOGICAL DESIGN METHODS: PUBLIC GARDENS

CONTENTS                                                                                                   

• Introduction _______________________________________________
• Outline___________________________________________________
• Oikos Ecological Design – Our Vision__________________________
• The MCGM – Solid Waste and Debris __________________________
• MCGM Mumbai City Development Plan 2005-2025_______________
• Oikos Gardening in the City: Linking waste and renewal of gardens___

–        Strategies for Establishing, Developing and Maintaining Garden

–        Cement Blocks

–        Broken Tiling

–        Woody Debris

–         Composting: soft plant matter and marketing of the compost

–         Plant nursery: creating a market for compost

–        Growing mushrooms: creating further market value for gardens

–        Local Support

• Planning for the future –Oikos and You_________________________
• Suggestions and Conclusion__________________________________

Introduction

Mumbai is a megalopolis, the state capital of Maharashtra and the commercial hub of India. Due to this economic and cultural status, development in Mumbai is constant and few green spaces exist within the city. This is not to say that all is lost. Mumbai is the only city in the world to have a National Park forest within its municipal limits. The Sanjay Gandhi National Park is a 104 sq. km forest just north of the geographic centre of the island city. This does provide some respite from the urban development, but with few green spaces apart from this city forest, citizens are asking for more and better green spaces in the city.

We are an organization that believes that following a sustainable design strategy can allow for citizens to get such spaces, and that we can help to outline and create economic opportunities that could arise from the creation of a sustainable and ecologically sound design for Mumbai.

Outline

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) is the implementing agency for many of the public works such as solid waste management, Storm Water Drain (SWD) work and public gardens among other things. We at Oikos: Ecological Design believe that by working with the MCGM, we could provide a way to see solid wastes and debris as a resource to use towards a social and economic renewal of public gardens, and going further along the continuum, a renewal of Mumbai.

Oikos: Ecological Design – Our Vision

Our vision is to be a force of change, an organization that envisions and re-imagines current cities and systems and creates sustainable, economically sound and aesthetically pleasing spaces in their stead through the use of ecological design strategies.

Ecological Design entails using principles learnt from how Nature designs its systems, and implementing these in human-created systems. For example, in natural systems, waste is not a concept because any dead or decaying matter is used up within the system to create more opportunities for life, whereas human systems create waste every step of the way with little reuse. Thus ecological design would be useful to find a way to create a zero-waste strategy for a city, the same way there is zero-waste in a forest.

We wish to help Mumbai continue being the economic hub of India, and yet be one of the most sustainable cities there are. Mumbai, due to its prime location, has the perfect climate to be a green city, a place where green space is no longer a problem, and economic benefits can accrue even from this situation. We believe that we can help to steer Mumbai in this direction, given that we can create a collaborative work environment, providing sustainability services, and providing us the opportunity create spaces with ecological, economic and social benefits, where we can attract, keep and educate the public about the benefits of ecological design.  

 We strive to better the quality of life the public, first through public garden development, then through water stewardship and green architecture practices.

As a summary, the design will include the knowledge built from the study of ecology, wildlife biology, garden design, horticulture, organic and sustainable fruit production, media and communication, business management, and ecotourism.

The MCGM  - Solid Waste and Debris

One of the responsibilities of the MCGM is the removal of plant and tree debris from neighborhoods in Mumbai. Some of this is classified as waste and removed to landfills, whereas commercially viable wood wastes are brought back to central collection centres in the city for an audit.

The other kinds of debris we are interested in, is construction debris. Debris from buildings and road development among other things are valuable materials not being utilized for practical purposes. Wastes such as broken cement road tiles, pedestrian walkway tiles, broken or malformed cement blocks etc are useful, and can be of tremendous use.

MCGM Mumbai City Development Plan 2005 - 2025

In the Mumbai City Development Plan 2005-2025, the MCGM has outlined several strategies for creating sustainable initiatives in the city. These include reduction and local segregation of wastes, composting of organic materials, creation of a market for such compost and also on a landscape scale, mapping and planning and creating green and open spaces in the city in a sustainable manner.

We believe that our projects not only are on the same lines as these strategies, but also that through them we can in fact help to build the market given that we are supported in our efforts by the MCGM in what we ask. The following will explain and outline the strategies that we believe would be useful to jump start our operations, and in turn help to move forward the strategies of the MCGM in terms of creating the sustainable systems and market that the MCGM is trying to establish for the city.

Oikos Gardening in the City: Linking waste and renewal of gardens

Landscaping and renewing  public gardens: wild style

Many experts believe that wilderness has a large influence in human lives. Since we originally came from nature, some anthropologists believe that we have an innate love and respect for nature in its wild state. This phenomenon is called “Biophilia”.

We at Oikos believe that we can, by creating public gardens with “character” , not only bring people to them, but also make for community centers and renewing and rejuvenating spaces in a city that needs them. We will create gardens that mimic nature’s wild beauty, with waterfalls, ponds, and forest characteristics. These gardens will not only look beautiful, but function as hubs for wildlife, such as birds, butterflies and others.

This kind of garden will also create space where children will get a sense of adventure from exploring the garden, but will also be within safe limits inside the garden. Creating awareness of sustainability issues and the government initiatives currently underway in composting and water harvesting are also part of our plan

                            Strategies for Establishing, Developing and Maintaining Garden 

Cement blocks and rubble from construction: Construction debris is a useful resource and can be used as an under layer in landscapes, providing drainage and support to plant species the same way that a rock layer exists under the soil in natural landscapes.

Unused and broken road tiling: Cement pavers that are used in pedestrian walkways and road construction are sometimes damaged and chipped in the process of transportation or work. This rubble can be used in the same way as construction debris, as an under layer in landscapes, or to create rock walls.

Woody debris: In natural landscapes, fallen trees and broken branches add to the wild aesthetic of nature. They also create natural habitats for birds to perch on or microhabitats for beneficial agents for decomposition of organic matter. Broken tree branches and tree trunks can be used in this way in public gardens as well.

Composting: Soft plant matter that is collected can be composted and made into a rich nutrient source for gardens. This compost can either be sold or used within the public garden to boost plant growth and create more topsoil for landscapes.

Plant Nursery:  A small horticulture operation in collaboration with local growers should be set up whereby the public can purchase plants from the nursery and this would create the market to sell locally composted soil along with the plants.

Mushroom Nursery: Wood debris can also be used to grow edible mushrooms for sale, which again in turn can bring the public attention to the gardens. Local garden-produced mushrooms will cost less, and continue to create a market value for local gardens. 

Local Support: We plan on approaching local businesses and the public to help us with our development and we will consult on sustainability and green design issues regarding gardens and localities in their area that we are maintaining.

Link-ups with Closeby Gardens: We plan on creating links and contacts with other local gardens to create “green-ways”, spaces where the garden and open green spaces can be linked and walked through for long periods of time, providing larger and more interconnected ecologies and green spaces in the city.

Long Term Sustainable commitment: We are in the business of providing sustainable and ecologically friendly technologies and consultancies to the citizens of Mumbai. Mumbai is a city that is amazing for its society’s ability to bounce back from hardship and degredation. In the same way we wish to create a city in which the ecology of the city can repair itself and treate its own pollution while creating economically viable spaces from these.

Pilot project parks -

These would function as a pilot and demonstration of what we can do for other public gardens in the city. If granted the right, we would tap into the local businesses and use this valuable resource to help develop and maintain these gardens. If this is successful and a good demonstration, we hope that the MCGM will grant us the right to develop and maintain more public gardens within the city, first in the western suburbs, and then spreading further into the rest of the city.

 Through the commercial uses of the plant nursery and mushroom growing, we may be able to raise funds continuously to manage the gardens the composting yards. Reports can be drawn up to hand over to the MCGM if necessary.

Our hope is that such a collaboration would be possible, allowing us some freedom to get the debris that we believe is useful, and the government would get some help in their clearing of debris in a timely fashion. From this we believe can grow a partnership that could grow into a collaborative environment to work on further sustainability in our amazing and vibrant city.

Planning for the Future: Oikos and You

The MCGM has already outlined many strategies in its Mumbai City Development Plan to create a better, more sustainable and livable city.We believe that we can help the MCGM by consulting with them for their plans on mapping and creating a masterplan for their hierarchy of open spaces, recreational and renewing green spaces. We believe that the approach of the MCGM towards these spaces is the right one, to create a well planned inventory as opposed to the current reality of an ad hoc development of such spaces. If we can find a way to be a part of this approach, then we believe that both parties will benefit. Towards this end, we believe that perhaps a paid place on an MCGM Environmental Panel or consultancy space should be granted to us to help the MCGM further their plans for the city.

Suggestions

The MCGM would do well not to ignore the opportunities present in the storm water drain system for creating economically viable green spaces within the city. The BRIMSTOWAD report and project is already in place, but we do not believe that these spaces are being looked at as economically or ecologically viable, although they are more so than any other.

We believe that given the chance, we could help envision and create such greenways within the city. This is the main subject of our proposal to the MCGM titled “Draining Away: Mumbai Stormwater Drains and the Potential to Create Connected, Economically Viable Green Spaces from Unused Wetland Spaces”.

Conclusion

We thank you for your time, and we look to your support to help us. If you have suggestions or comments on this proposal, you may contact us and we would be glad to hear from you.

The Lokhandwala Lake Restoration Project

The Problem:

A freshwater lake, unique in its nestled position between mangrove patches, is in serious peril from urban pollution and government apathy.

What was once a community space and walker's paradise has been crippled by garbage inflow (a garbage unit was designated next to it recently), and the singularly Indian 'let's dump religious objects all over nature' mentality. Add to this powerful utility companies next door claiming the lake is a 'security risk', and you've got a good boil going. 

The Solution:

Using OikosES as a bridge and battery, we can help mobilize, redesign and redevelop aspects of  the lake and surrounding area through community participation, design sessions and sustainable ecological interventions.

Profit or loss? Urban redesign series - Water systems

Redesigning Mumbai's Stormwater and Drainage, toward a better management system for urban areas.

Why should we restore our water system?

It's plain to see, and reported often enough that our cities are falling apart. Unsustainable, and sometimes horrific development patterns and bad architectural designs are creating a monster mess creating cities with infrastructure falling apart as quickly as they grow.

Our ecosystems continue to deteriorate at a rapid pace, and cannot support life, creating a toxic backlash to the human community.

What are the problems that we have seen?

Loss of historic wetlands
Disruption of water flows
Deterioration in water quality and toxic chemical buildup and accumulation in sealife
Vast quantities of freshwater wasted and fouled
Mangrove and beach ecosystems affected by continuous and ever growing garbage buildup
Health risks for surrounding communities, in this case the entire city

 A possible vision

Turning our nallas back into walkable or navigable streams, rivers and canals for human use, through an ecological design approach.

We propose to change our wasted and polluted spaces into productive, ecologically and economically viable areas through the framework of landscape restoration, ecodesign techniques, and sustainable development principles.

Through this work, we can bring together communities and stakeholders into an open forum, making them aware again of their impacts on the environment.
Hopefully this will lead to a nurturing and revival of citizen's relationship with their land and people.
 
What kinds of lands are we talking about?

The issues we see are systemic, and creating solutions cannot be done on a  piecemeal basis. One cannot fix one section of drain and hope the problem will be solved, just as covering street drains does not solve the problem of foul and smelly gutters. Out of sight, out of mind, but still part of reality, unfortunately.

  Thus we propose to reconnect the land to the water, and work across the matrix, on:

Stormwater drains
Public parks
Mangrove lands
Reserve mangrove forest/Beaches



Operational benefits from a redesign

Reduction in urban flooding
More walkable / navigable green spaces
Healthier downstream ecosystems/ food web security
Reduction in health risks for immediate and surrounding community

CONCEPT :CITY FORESTRY/PUBLIC FOOD FOREST

What does this have to do with me?

Everything.

Our cities need transformation from the inside out. This means working with the natural systems we have around us in order to set up a new kind of city development paradigm. Forest cities.

HOW

Collaboratively

With the help of urban agriculture, we can begin to grow a few crops, working on

vertical surfaces of the city.

Horizontal spaces, planned and developed as forest, will allow for many levels of interaction in cities, and clear traffic congestion completely if designed appropriately (ahem…we have concepts if you want to talk).

In all this forestry, wood and biomass become the primary resources, producing a system of energy, edible matter and secondary (non timber forest) products for economic benefit.

Wood for smoke and fire are also needed based on season.

By creating a forestry regime in the city, not only are the trees given back their respect and place in society, they can be actively worked with to provide for neighborhood needs.

Sense of space is very important, not only for local communities to adapt to their surroundings, but even for refugee communities, and working this angle, we could create healthy, collaborative, diverse, and dynamic cities, as is the need today. Not only that, it looks that it is one of the ready to catch waves forming on the conceptual reef of the human movement.

Embedded technologies and 'Interaction' landscapes

Interaction landscapes are an idea that across species and technologies, that we may be able to, through our current understanding in science, technology, and living systems, 'talk' to the architecture as well as the ecological systems around us.

By creating 'embedded' ecological technologies into current urban architecture, through festivals, art, scrap re-engineering and gardening, we could create a new level of urban architecture, that ties people back into the spaces they inhabit. By creating these systems in small scale, and in easily replicable architectural and time-based construction models, cloning becomes easy for anyone.

Sharing economy and pop up 'beacons' such as this are already beginning to show results, and communities are again slowly awakening to their spaces and environments. A move to demonstrate such projects exists in the realm of festivals, however, urban planners and land management agencies must also be willing to work for the future, being able to merge such decentralised technologies into the city plans.

Food and forage/plants and fungi/

We use edible or medicinal plants in most of our projects. However there was a need to also study foraging techniques as well as forage species that could be used to bring back traditional forage species into use in contemporary urban gardening.

Fungalist - Urban Forage/Mycocatchers

As a personal though, I wondered, since there is so much wood around, very little information on regional mushroom species, and limited time, how could I work on mushroom work in the city?

Documenting local species occurrences no doubt yields a large amount of data -

Click to see species occurring in Mumbai

Fungi in Santacruz, Mumbai
Fungi in Juhu, Mumbai
Fungi in Seven Bungalows, Andheri
Fungi in Goregaon, Mumbai


However, something I worked on with Oikos in rural areas earlier, was a mycocatcher. There is no real special science here, more like if we put out a resource, and since life self-organises and competes, you will usually land up having a range of species that will readily colonise wood or earthen debris.

Bringing wooden debris home from a dead tree next door was possible. so I did that. I had noticed mushrooms growing on the trees (killed by a boring beetle - see Borer Bling), and negotiated to take the sawed logs and wood debris away with me.

Creating this kind of mycocatcher allows an up close and personal view of the process and one can study closely the mechanisms of growth of mushrooms, and have quality control over any edibles that you may happen to 'catch'.  

 

Freshly picked Oyster mushrooms from a harvest from logs

Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus, above, right) and Wood Ears (Auricularia, below) are among those that can be grown and harvested when such logs are innoculated or ..erm..put out to colonise.

A mesh screen with sawdust and wood chips catches Coprinus (Great for making old school inks)

Schizophyllum commune, very widespread, is apparently used as a medicinal by the Chinese.

And then there are others species that colonise that we should become more familiar with. The polypores are a strange, slightly different bunch, some highly medicinal, part of a billion dollar pharmaceutical industry.