REGENERATION AND ECODEVELOPMENT OF MANGROVE AREAS IN KALLIASSERY PANCHAYAT IN KANNUR DISTRICT

Funding Agency: United Nations Development Programme under Small Grants Programme through Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India.

Conservation and management of any ecosystem can be successfully carried out with the incorporation of local knowledge, understanding the linkages between the local population and the ecosystem under consideration regarding functions, services and provision of livelihood. Mangroves are salt tolerant trees or shrubs found along low-energy, tidal shorelines in tropical and subtropical areas (approx between 30N and 30S). They colonise newly formed tidal flats in the wind and wave shadows of promontories and islands, and behind wave absorbing sand bars and sea grass beds. Mangroves are part of rich ecosystems providing a variety of environmental goods and services. Recently exploitation of mangrove forests has intensified, as traditional economies become increasingly market integrated and modernized.

The project took a very unique approach to conserve and improve the mangrove ecosystem of Kalliassery Panchayat and surrounding areas. Kannur District tops in the extent of mangrove ecosystem in Kerala. Kalliassery Panchayat also had lot of areas under mangrove vegetation and which were under different stages like pristine, threatened, degrading and completely degraded. Such degraded areas were identified through local level surveys and interaction with local people. The project also took effort through community participation in conserving, protecting and improving one of the most productive ecosystem in the world i.e mangroves and indirectly a very productive wetland ecosystem, which is usually under various threats due to lack of awareness regarding its significance and its contribution to the global and local environment. This has helped to enhance the biodiversity of the area, to prevent erosion problems and indirectly benefited to the increase in the animal life in the area especially, fish diversity.

A detailed resource map of the area was prepared using the local volunteers. This has helped to identify the locations where mangroves are still existed and also to identify locations available for mangrove conservation and regeneration. A number of mangrove areas were identified, which is facing severe threats of degradation, and the problem was discussed with the local people who owned these mangrove areas and planned activities for conservation of the area. A mass awareness campaigns were conducted and message boards were established showing the importance of conservation of mangrove areas. One acre of land was earmarked for nursery raising and then converted into the Mangrove Genetic Resource Centre where the entire mangrove and mangrove associates available in the State of Kerala were introduced and thus enhanced the species diversity of the area. Certain areas were demarcated and planted as nursery specific to a particular species. Altogether around 30,000 plants coming under 14 different mangrove species were planted. An idea of “Community Mangrove Reserves” was also implemented. In this programme, a few people who are really interested in conservation of mangrove ecosystem were approached. Around two acres of land was purchased with the contribution from the people identified and conservation activities were implemented in this area including afforestation with different mangrove species. Message boards were put in many places in the surroundings of the project area which helped to make the people aware of the importance of mangrove conservation. A number of lecture classes, exhibitions and public meetings in schools, Arts and Sports Clubs and public places in the surroundings of the project area were conducted which also helped to spread the message of conservation. A stakeholder workshop was also organized after the completion of the major activities and people from the surrounding five panchayats attended the workshop.

The output of the project is that, it has considerably enhanced the mangrove biodiversity of the area and the degraded patches have been regenerated. Many activities have been undertaken to increase local level awareness regarding mangrove vegetation and local participation has been ensured which has indirectly generated employment for local people in the form of land preparation activities, seedling and seed collection, planting activities and cleanup operations. The area is very attractive for its natural beauty and so has vast potential for establishing a Non-consumptive tourism center with special focus to Indigenous tourism. Lots of birds reaching the site every morning and evening enhance its potential for Ecotourism.