Kallen Pokkudan, from Kannur district became an eminent figure in the conservation of Kerala’s mangrove forests over the years. Born in a marginalized family, he has been dedicated to securing the coastal resources of Kerala through effective interventions.
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He has travelled across Kerala’s coast educating the local communities, including fish workers about the essence of mangroves in protecting coastal assets during hazards such as cyclones and floods. On his journeys, he collected seeds of around 22 species of mangroves. He had a long struggle making people believe in his proposition.
Pokkudan demonstrated his claims by creating mangrove walls at Arattupuzha in Alappuzha and Choodat beach in Kannur and prevented erosion by the sea, which concerned the local fishermen. Kerala is bordered by a 590km coastline, which is getting the worst of sea erosion and sea accretion. Scientists have warned that coastal areas in the state will experience an increasing number of sea surges in the coming years, mainly due to rising sea surface temperatures. Mangroves are naturally water absorbent and when plated in a thick cover are effective in forming a protective barrier on the shorelines.
The mangroves are a rich resource of medicine, food, and fuel for the marginalised community that Pokkudan belonged to. His son, Anandan recalls his father saying that all life depends on the mangroves and that they are the security guards of the earth, thus his family aims to continue the legacy to propagate the plantation of mangroves.
Keywords: climate change, erosion, community participation
Pic credits: pixabay
Read the full story here: mongabay
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