KOLLAM: A mangrove survey being organised by the Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP) in the State has discovered large reserves of the critically endangered Aegiceras corniculatum species of mangroves all over the mangrove belts of Kannur district.
The survey, to prepare a database of surviving mangrove forests in the State, is being conducted on a district-wise basis. It began with Kollam district in July and Kannur was the second district covered. The survey was conducted there for three days from August 8.
Former National Institute of Oceanography director U.K. Gopalan, who led the survey, told The Hindu that one important outcome of the survey is the suspicion whether the healthy growth of mangroves in Kannur district triggers the evolution of new mangrove species in the area. Others in the team include former Kerala State Biodiversity Board chairman V.S.Vijayan, Kannur University's Environment Department director Khaleel Chowa, KSSP State convener V.R.Reghunandan, KSSP environment committee chairman T.Gangadharan and KSSP expert committee member V.K. Madhusudhanan.
Dr. Gopalan says besides over 500 hectares of undisturbed mangrove forests, Kannur is home to giant-sized mangroves from the Avicennia officianalis species. Many of the trees should be about 150 years old and some of them have a girth of over two metres. Also, the Kandelia candel species of mangrove facing extinction in other parts of the State is found in a healthy condition in Kannur.
He says that several projects are on the anvil in Kannur in total disregard for the mangrove ecosystem there. The survey team points out that the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation has acquired 184 acres of land within the mangrove belt for the Irinav power project in the Valapattanam estuary.
Source:The Hindu, 13-8-2010
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