Pocket forest at Malwani hosp turns into biodiversity haven

A small urban forest planted two years ago in the compound of the Government General Hospital, Malwani (Malad East), has flourished into a thriving biodiversity hotspot, drawing butterflies and birds amid the dense urban surroundings.

- Manoj Ramakrishnan

Initiated under the government’s Kayakalp programme, the women’s and children’s hospital collaborated with Mission Green Mumbai on August 15, 2023, to enhance the hospital's ambience. The group identified a 20-metre-wide strip along the 580-metre perimeter for the forest.

Local fruit tree saplings like guava, lemon, star fruit, and jackfruit were planted, transforming the seven-acre campus into a rare green oasis in the city. Flowers and medical plants were also planted.