Nature and urban citizenship redefined: The case of the National Park in Mumbai

This paper is a case study of the contemporary changes that affect the Sanjay Gandhi National Park and its surroundings in the city of Mumbai. It cross-examines the relationships between urban nature and urban space in the case of a city of the South. We argue that the issue of equitable access to urban nature is embedded in the larger question of the Right to the City. We show how processes of urban growth that lead to a shrinking of the forested area are associated with a differentiation of the Right to the City, rather than a general consolidation of claims on space. Defence of the park is mobilised to redefine urban citizenship and leads to a form of graduated citizenship. This differentiates those who see their claims on urban space consolidated; those whose urban citizenship is degraded, and those for whom urban citizenship is denied.

► The Sanjay Gandhi National Park is located within the 20 million metropolis of Mumbai. ► No collaboration between park and city management has led to slum settlement within the park. ► We analyse the urban dwellers (“tribals”, slums, middle classes) in the park. ► The Right to the City is redefined in relation to environment. ► The urban political ecology framework is refined by our research at the local scale.