World Mangrove Day: Locals unite to protect Kunhimangalam Mangroves in Kannur

In Kunhimangalam, Kannur—home to Kerala's largest mangrove area—locals are working tirelessly to educate younger generations about the importance of preserving these vital ecosystems. They are engaged in continuous protests and legal efforts to protect the mangroves. Out of Kerala's total 17 square kilometres of mangroves, Kunhimangalam boasts 8.08 percent of this area.

The mangroves are densely grown and spread over 1.374 square kilometres of swamps. There are various projects going on here for mangrove conservation. In 1998, environmentalists bought three acres and three cents of mangroves. Then the environmental organisation SEEK purchased the nearby four-acre mangrove forest. 

In 2003, the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) stepped in to safeguard the mangroves by acquiring land in the region. By 2023, approximately 43 acres of mangroves were designated as protected forest areas. The ‘Kannur Mangrove Project,’ established by WTI in Kunhimangalam, provides essential facilities for environmentalists both from within and outside Kerala for research and study. The project also hosts various camps and workshops aimed at raising awareness about the significance of conserving wetlands and mangroves.

Cases of encroachment on mangroves are widespread. Incidents of land mafia destroying mangroves and filling wetlands by flouting coastal laws are not uncommon. Although environmentalists work diligently to combat these threats, the problem persists. A lion’s share of the remaining mangroves are privately owned, making them particularly vulnerable to deforestation and wetland encroachment.