Said Digambar Dahibaokar, forest officer (mobile unit) "We have had regular sightings of deer and other wildlife in the area, which shows that the ecological balance has been restored.

Such plantation drives will initiate a healing process to rectify past mistakes. No other city in the world has such a vast natural habitat right in the middle of the city. Therefore, it is our duty to protect it."

Over a two-week period in 2003, volunteers successfully planted over five lakh seeds on land reclaimed from over 50,000 illegal encroachers and 3,000 illegal commercial establishments in the area.

"There are still 25,000 illegal encroachments inside the park," says Dahibaokar, "but we are working on it."

Added Kubal, "Sixty-five per cent of the seeds have geminated and survived, which is good, considering the soil conditions, which was totally eroded due to years of abuse and neglect. We are planning something much bigger this year."

The plantation drive, was the brainchild of Avinash Kubal, deputy director of Maharashtra Nature Park, Mahim, who had taken on the task of supplying and selecting a variety of indigenous seeds that suited the climate, soil and supported the biodiversity of the region.

"Covering the area with plants will prevent it from being encroached upon in future. It will also ensure that efforts of Dr A R Bharti, ex deputy director of National Park to evict the encroachers with political backing, will not go in vain," he said.

Kubal added that it was encouraging to see elderly ladies, who were not capable of hard work bringing in jerry cans filled with chilled buttermilk for the volunteers.