Malabar Hill's Secret Arboretum: BNHS’s Tree Heritage Walk Reveals Mumbai’s Vanishing Wilderness

Malabar Hill remains one of Mumbai’s most enduring green pockets, a quiet refuge of ancient trees, native flora and rare species amid relentless urban growth. On December 14, the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) will lead a specially curated tree heritage walk across this landscape, inviting residents to witness the city’s natural legacy up close. The walk is modest in duration but rich in purpose, a two-hour primer on the ecological and cultural threads that once defined the seven islands of Mumbai and that still sustain the city’s living systems today.

The guided walk begins at 8:30 am from the Kamala Nehru Park gate near Sumant Moolgaonkar Chowk and will conclude between 10:30 and 11:00 am. Participants will explore the arboreal diversity of Malabar Hill with emphasis on native, endemic and ecologically critical species. BNHS director Kishor Rithe and representative Asif Khan will guide the group, blending botanical insight with historical and cultural narratives.

A Walk That Connects Nature, History and Urban Memory

Malabar Hill is not merely a collection of trees; it is a living archive of the city’s ecological past. The seven islands that coalesced into modern Mumbai once supported dense forest cover and a variety of native vegetation. Over the centuries, much of that green fabric has been altered or lost to reclamation and construction. The BNHS walk is an attempt to slow this attrition by reconnecting citizens with the species and stories that shaped the city’s identity.

The walk’s design reflects a deliberate pedagogy: short, focused segments that pair plant identification with stories of traditional uses, cultural symbolism and conservation status. By situating biological facts within human narratives, the programme aims to make conservation personally meaningful. For a densely populated metropolis where everyday exposure to nature is limited for many, this format increases the likelihood that participants will carry the experience into household choices and community action.

Biodiversity On Display: Why Native and Endemic Species Matter

Malabar Hill’s tree canopy hosts a range of native species that perform critical ecological functions, from stabilising soil and regulating microclimates to supporting pollinators and urban wildlife. Native and endemic trees are adapted to local rainfall patterns and soil types; their removal can trigger cascading ecological effects. The BNHS walk will highlight species that are ecologically key, those that disproportionately influence habitat quality for birds, insects and understorey plants.

Urban biodiversity is not only an environmental objective but also an urban resilience strategy. Cities that preserve diverse native vegetation tend to fare better during heat waves, heavy rainfall events and other climate-stress episodes. For municipal planners and citizens alike, recognizing which species contribute most to resilience can inform small-scale interventions, such as selective planting, seed saving and micro-habitat protection, that scale across neighbourhoods.

Cultural and Traditional Knowledge as Conservation Levers

Beyond ecology, trees on Malabar Hill carry layered cultural meanings. Many species have traditional uses, medicinal, ritualistic or practical, that link them to local livelihoods and heritage. Asif Khan explains that contextualising trees in this way deepens public sympathy and creates practical incentives for protection. When a community remembers that a local tree species once supplied medicine, shade and seasonal fruits, stewardship shifts from abstract obligation to lived interest.

Embedding cultural narratives into conservation campaigns also improves outreach effectiveness. Heritage walks that articulate both scientific value and cultural resonance are more likely to translate curiosity into stewardship and advocacy. This dual framing is at the core of BNHS’s approach for the Malabar Hill event.
 

From Awareness to Action: Building a Citizen-Led Restoration Pipeline

Awareness is a necessary first step; the BNHS walk is explicitly designed to catalyse local action. Participants will learn how to identify priority species for planting, basic techniques for tree care in urban settings, and opportunities to participate in restoration drives. The session will also outline how citizens can collaborate with municipal bodies, resident associations and local NGOs to protect saplings, lobby for protective fencing around heritage trees, and promote native-species planting in civic projects.

If even a small fraction of attendees converts their learning into sustained action, planting a native tree, organising a street-level sapling care group, or advocating for tree-protective bylaws, the cumulative effect can be measurable. Urban forestry gains momentum not through isolated gestures but through distributed, repeatable citizen behaviour.

Practical Details and Who Should Attend

The walk is suitable for families, students, educators, amateur naturalists and urban planners interested in ecological restoration. Its two-hour duration makes it accessible for school groups and working professionals seeking a focused weekend engagement. Participants should wear comfortable footwear, carry water and sun protection, and be prepared for gentle walking along paved and unpaved stretches.

For further details or to confirm participation, contact Asif Khan at 9969798447. Organisers recommend punctuality as the group will depart sharply at 8:30 am from Kamala Nehru Park gate.
 

Why This Matters Now

Mumbai’s green cover faces continuous pressure from development and climatic shifts. Events such as the BNHS tree heritage walk are tactical interventions in a broader strategic challenge: preserving and restoring urban nature before it becomes too fragmented to recover naturally. By combining scientific knowledge, cultural storytelling and practical guidance, the walk offers a compact but potent model for urban ecological education.

In sum, the December 14 walk at Malabar Hill is more than a morning outing; it is a practical study in urban conservation that equips citizens with knowledge, motivation and tools. For a city negotiating the trade-offs between growth and green, such programmes are essential not only to preserve memories of the past but to secure the ecological foundations of Mumbai’s future.