This project was a follow-up to our previous efforts in November 2022, specifically within BPCL’s STF area, an essential component of the Kerala State Government’s mandated mangrove restoration initiative. Unlike our previous planting in the STF area, the conditions were optimal this time, giving us confidence in the survival of each sapling.
The collaborative effort between Sustera Foundation and Grassroute is just the beginning. The success of this mangrove restoration project is a testament to the power of dedicated individuals and organizations working together to make a positive impact on the environment.
The event fostered engaging interactions between the experts and the enthusiastic students, who were keen to learn more about mangrove preservation and its importance to the environment. The successful observance of the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem at SDPYKPM High School in Edavanakkad was a testament to the power of collective action and the commitment of individuals to safeguarding our environment for generations to come.
I.B. Manoj, a well-known environmental activist, has been honored with the Vypeen Press Club Award for his tireless efforts in environmental conservation. His work has been focused on creating fruit forests and butterfly parks in schools, as well as restoring mangroves in beach areas. In addition to his community projects, I.B. Manoj has also dedicated his personal time to creating a small forest adjacent to his residence on a 1.5 acre land. The award was presented to him by Honorable Member of Parliament, Mr. Hibi Eaden, at the Narakkal Holy Family Convention Center.
Grassroute participated in the Kerala State Biodiversity Congress held in Meenchanda, Kerala, where we exhibited mangrove saplings and posters of various mangrove and bamboo species found in Kerala. The congress was inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who stressed the need for collective efforts to protect biodiversity and ensure the livelihood of the local population. The congress concluded on February 20, 2023.
World Wetlands Day was marked by a planting project at Valappu Beach, organized by Grassroute. Mrs. Rasikala Priyaraj, the Panchayath President of Elamkunnappuzha, inaugurated the project and students from various schools participated with enthusiasm. The event was supported by Transworld and Social Forestry and emphasized the importance of wetlands for ecological balance and species survival. The planting project was a success and a demonstration of community involvement in creating a more sustainable future.
The species we planted were Rhizophora mucronata which was taken from our own nursery. To avoid plastic, all the saplings were kept in bamboo pots. We had a lot of trouble digging the pits and planting the mangroves as the canal was filled with solid soil instead of mud. Therefore, it took more than two and a half hours to plant a hundred saplings.
Locally available Mangrove plants and Bamboo saplings were exhibited in the stall. Seeds of wild trees and bamboo plants were also there. Many students from schools and colleges and academic experts have visited the stall.
We have got the Pokkali farming method from our ancestors and they were doing it very well, but somewhere we have lost it somehow. Now it is on the verge of being obsolete. It is our primary commitment to support such native cultivation methods and to prevent them from extinction.
Keralites use coconut as food, tender coconuts for water and toddy they drink, with the fronds they make mats and roofings, with the oil they cook and with the husk fibre they make ropes. But the thing is that coconut is declaining in Kerala. On World Coconut Day, we plant a few saplings.