More mangrove forests in Kerala to be declared as protected forests

KOCHI: Four more mangrove forests in Kerala will be added to the list of protected forests. A notification has been issued designating the mangrove forests in Puthuvaippu (Ernakulam), Venmanad (Thrissur), Cheruvannur, Kadalundi, Vallikkunnu, Iringal (Kozhikode), and Eranholi (Kannur) as reserved areas. This marks the first step towards declaring them as protected forests.

These areas are being declared as reserved forests under the Kerala Forest Act of 1961, recognizing the ecological importance of mangroves and wetlands.

According to scientists, Kerala has lost 60% of its mangrove cover. Urbanization, encroachments, and climate change have all contributed to the destruction.

38 species of mangroves in Kerala
Kerala is home to 38 species of mangroves, though only one species is found across all districts. Mangroves are most commonly found in the districts of Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Alappuzha, and Kollam. Thiruvananthapuram has three species of mangroves. Globally, there are 82 species of mangroves.

Protected mangrove forests- Largest in Kannur
(Area in hectares)

Kannur – 226 hectares
Kasaragod – 54.695 hectares
Thrissur (Orumanayur) – 3.3853 hectares (smallest)

Newly notified mangrove areas
(Area in hectares)

• Puthuvaippu – 65.83
• Venmanad – 94.77
• Kozhikode – 36.437
• Eranholi – 2.0630

“Declaring more mangrove areas as protected forests is a welcome move. However, mangroves can only thrive if they are scientifically replanted.”
— Dr. Bijoy Nandan
Dean, Faculty of Marine Science, CUSAT