"Mangroves prevent soil erosion, maintaining a steady shoreline along areas where fresh and saline water mix," says Stalin, a key member of NGO Vanashakti, which has, in the past decade, lodged over 18 Public Interest Litigations (PILs) to save Mumbai's surviving greens. The ground shrub growing in the intertidal zones also enrich biodiversity by attracting a wide array of fish, birds and amphibians. In addition, mangroves desalinate and detox water, practically offering a supply of portable water that can be used for various purposes, including drinking, after minimum purification. "You can very well call them the kidneys of the earth-hope for mankind," reasons Stalin. For more details http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report-are-we-harvesting-mumbai-s-kidneys-2460648