Late arrival of flamingos to Navi Mumbai wetlands, Thane creek sign of environmental stress: Experts – Tribune India

Report on Environmental Stress in Navi Mumbai Wetlands and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Executive Summary

The delayed annual migration of flamingo flocks to the wetlands of Navi Mumbai and Thane Creek serves as a critical indicator of escalating environmental degradation. This report analyzes the situation through the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting the direct impacts of climate change on local ecosystems and the urgent need for policy alignment with global sustainability targets.

2.0 Key Observations and SDG Linkages

Experts have identified several interconnected issues that challenge the achievement of key SDGs:

• Ecological Disruption: The primary cause for the delayed arrival is attributed to prolonged monsoon and post-monsoon rains, a direct manifestation of climate change. This disruption directly impedes progress on SDG 13 (Climate Action) by demonstrating the tangible, local impacts of global climate patterns.
• Biodiversity as a Bio-indicator: Flamingos are described as “ambassadors of a healthy environment.” Their diminished or delayed presence signals a struggling ecosystem, which is a setback for SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), both of which aim to protect and restore vital ecosystems and halt biodiversity loss.

3.0 The Role of Wetlands in Achieving Sustainable Development

The significance of the affected wetlands extends across multiple development goals, underscoring their value as critical natural assets.

1. Climate Action and Resilience (SDG 13 & SDG 11): As noted by the NatConnect Foundation and recognized by global bodies like Ramsar and UNEP, coastal wetlands and mangroves are vital “blue carbon” sinks. Their protection is a direct contribution to SDG 13 by sequestering carbon. Furthermore, they serve as protective climate infrastructure, reducing flood risk and enhancing urban resilience, a core target of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
2. Ecosystem Services (SDG 14 & SDG 15): Flamingos contribute to ecosystem health through bioturbation, a process that oxygenates mudflats and balances nutrients. Protecting their habitat is essential for maintaining the ecological functions that support marine and terrestrial life, aligning with the objectives of SDG 14 and SDG 15.

4.0 Threats and Urgent Recommendations

Current practices pose a significant threat to these ecosystems and the attainment of the SDGs.

• Primary Threats: The continued dumping of debris and the treatment of wetlands as real estate for reclamation are identified as primary threats. These actions release stored carbon, increase the risk of natural disasters, and directly contravene the principles of sustainable urban development.
• Recommendations for SDG Alignment:
  • Authorities must immediately cease all debris dumping in wetland areas to protect biodiversity and ecosystem integrity (SDG 14, SDG 15).
  • A policy shift is required to reclassify wetlands as crucial climate assets rather than land for development, ensuring their protection contributes to climate resilience and sustainable urban planning (SDG 11, SDG 13).

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article highlights issues that are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals, primarily focusing on environmental health, climate change, and biodiversity.

   • SDG 13: Climate Action: The article explicitly links the delayed arrival of flamingos to “climate change challenges” such as “prolonged monsoon and post-monsoon rains.” It emphasizes the role of wetlands as “protective climate infrastructure” and “blue carbon sinks” that store carbon and mitigate flood risks, directly aligning with the goal of combating climate change and its impacts.
   • SDG 14: Life Below Water: The focus on “Navi Mumbai’s wetlands and Thane Creek” points to the health of coastal ecosystems. The article discusses the importance of these coastal wetlands, their recognition by global bodies like “Ramsar and UNEP,” and the need to protect them from threats like “debris dumping,” which is central to the conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal resources.
   • SDG 15: Life on Land: This goal is relevant as it pertains to the protection and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems, including wetlands. The article describes flamingos as “ambassadors of a healthy environment” and notes that their declining numbers indicate a “struggling” ecosystem. The call to stop “debris dumping” and prevent the “reclamation” of wetlands is a direct plea to halt habitat degradation and biodiversity loss.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   The article’s content points to several specific targets within the identified SDGs.

   • Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
     • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters. The article supports this by highlighting the role of wetlands in reducing “flood risk” and warning that their destruction “increases natural disasters.”
   • Under SDG 14 (Life Below Water):
     • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts. The call to “stop debris dumping and treat wetlands as crucial climate assets rather than real estate ready for reclamation” directly addresses the need to protect these coastal ecosystems from human-induced pressures.
   • Under SDG 15 (Life on Land):
     • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular… wetlands. The entire article is a call to action for the conservation of the Navi Mumbai wetlands.
     • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity… The article’s focus on the threat to flamingos and their wetland habitat from “debris dumping” and potential reclamation directly relates to this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   The article implies several qualitative and quantitative indicators that can be used to measure the health of the ecosystem and progress towards the SDGs.

   • Biodiversity Indicators: The “delayed annual arrival of flamingo flocks” and their presence in “declining numbers” are presented as direct indicators of environmental stress and a struggling ecosystem. The regularity and size of the flamingo population can thus be used as a key performance indicator for the health of the wetlands.
   • Ecosystem Health Indicators: The article mentions that flamingos maintain ecosystem health through “bioturbation, which oxygenates mudflats and balances nutrients.” The measurement of oxygen and nutrient levels in the mudflats could serve as a scientific indicator of the ecosystem’s functional health.
   • Habitat Degradation Indicators: The extent of “debris dumping” and the area of wetlands lost to “reclamation” for real estate are clear, measurable indicators of habitat degradation and the failure to protect these crucial climate assets.
   • Climate Resilience Indicators: The capacity of the wetlands to function as “‘blue carbon’ sinks” (measured by carbon sequestration rates) and their effectiveness in mitigating “flood risk” can be used as indicators of their contribution to climate action and resilience.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: tribuneindia.com