n. vasudevan heads the forest service's mangrove cell. his job is to protect mumbai's mangrove forests. >> during the ring tides, this whole area is covered by saline water. in a situation like this, other trees cannot grow. mangroves have special adaptations to grow in such areas. if the mangroves were not there, this whole place would have been barren. >> the creek's mangrove forests provide a habitat for many plants and animals. there's plenty of food for them. the flamingos feed on algae that grow on the mudflats and are exposed at low tide. they also eat mollusks and crustaceans. mangroves are also a spawning ground for several species of fish and crabs. but this seemingly healthy ecosystem in the middle of mumbai is no paradise. in many places, the lack of toilets and sanitation means wastewater ends up unfiltered in the sea, just like plastic and other refuse. that's taking its toll on the mangroves, suffocating their roots. the fragile ecological balance has been upset. >> we are trying to bring a coordination between different st