The Maharashtra State Wildlife Board has officially declared DPS Flamingo Lake, a 30-acre wetland in Navi Mumbai, as a conservation reserve. This significant move aims to protect the vital habitat for migratory flamingos and other aquatic birds, reinforcing the state's commitment to preserving urban biodiversity.

• The decision follows years of campaigning by organisations like NatConnect Foundation and the Navi Mumbai Environment Preservation Society (NMEPS), who staged protests and human chains after 17 flamingos died in 2023 due to blocked tidal inlets. Since then, authorities have reopened water channels and cleared 60% of the algae-choked lake, prompting the return of large numbers of flamingos.
• The Maharashtra State Wildlife Board has declared DPS Flamingo Lake as a conservation reserve to protect migratory flamingos and other bird species.
• Local environmental groups and government efforts helped restore the lake’s ecosystem, improving water flow and reducing ecological threats.