KANNUR KANDAL PROJECT

The Kannur Kandal Project – ‘kandal’ being the Malayalam word for mangroves – aims to ensure the survival of existing mangroves and increase the acreage of these coastal wetlands across Kannur, potentially making it a prototype for other coastal districts in Kerala and the rest of the country.

^{Kannur has 7.55 sq km of mangroves, i.e. around 45% of Kerala’s total mangrove forest cover. | Photo © Jayesh Padichal}

Mangrove forests are unique ecosystems that are exceptionally rich in biodiversity. They grow along intertidal coastal habitats such as shorelines, estuaries and backwaters. Mangroves serve as both refuges and nurseries for a wide variety of threatened terrestrial and aquatic species, while also providing coastal communities with fodder, medicines and firewood. In addition, they act as natural barriers against cyclones and tsunamis (evidenced by their important role in reducing the impact of the 2004 and 2019 Indian Ocean tsunamis), prevent coastal erosion, and maintain inland water quality by preventing seawater intrusion.

Mangrove forests have faced considerable destruction the world over, with less than half of the original acreage remaining

About half of the world’s mangroves have been lost over the past 50 years, with a significant proportion disappearing in just the last two decades, largely due to rapid population growth and unsustainable development. (Data from Global Forest Watch, an online forest monitoring platform, shows that the world lost 192,000 hectares of mangroves between 2001 and 2012.)

The acreage of mangroves in Kerala has also drastically reduced over the years, with only about 1750 hectares remaining of an estimated historical extent of 70,000 hectares. The conversion of mangroves into coconut plantations or other agricultural land, aquaculture, unscientific water regulation, population pressures, real estate development, inadequate enforcement of laws, etc., have all contributed towards their destruction.

Kannur has 7.55 sq km of mangroves, i.e. around 45% of Kerala’s total mangrove forest cover. Nearly 90% of these forests, which support at least 10 species of mangroves (including the uncommon Rhizophora apiculata), 87 species of fish, 83 species of birds and 13 species of mammals, are under private ownership and are therefore highly threatened.

Project Highlights

To ensure the survival of existing mangroves and increase the acreage of such habitats, the Kannur Kandal Project has been focusing on purchasing mangrove land, ecological restoration of degraded mangrove habitats through community and government participation, outreach and awareness, as well as research.

When the project began, WTI’s strategy was to purchase and secure privately owned mangrove areas to ensure their long-term protection. This private-purchase model for mangrove conservation was initiated in 2006. Since then, with the support from World Land Trust (WLT), Apollo Tyres, IFAW, and other independent donors, WTI has to date purchased a total of 37.16 acres of privately-owned mangroves. The long-term plan is to secure 100 acres of such mangrove lands in Kannur district to establish a model for mangrove conservation.

With respect to education and outreach, the project to date has conducted 447 community-led conservation awareness programs, reaching more than 86,650 people.

The decade from 2021 to 2030 has been designated as the United Nations Decade for Ecosystem Restoration, which calls for the scientific restoration of ecosystems while encouraging communities to participate in and benefit from these efforts. In line with this goal, WTI joined hands with the SBI Foundation in December 2022 to increase the acreage of mangroves in the district of Kannur. As of April 2026, the project has restored 39.3 acres of degraded mangroves by planting more than 2,00,000 native mangrove saplings. To facilitate mangrove restoration in the district, a Mother nursery and at least 5 satellite nurseries were established, where more than 3,00,000 saplings have been raised. The project hopes to restore this vital ecosystem in the district – patch by patch.