Greens nurture mangroves to protect coastline

Focus on a natural bio-defence against the growing impact of climate change

A group of nature lovers at Nayarambalam near Vypeen in Ernakulam is on a mission to plant mangroves as a natural bio-defence against the growing impact of climate change on the fragile coastal region.

The 20-odd active members of ‘Grassroute’, an environmental organisation, have launched an exclusive nursery for mangroves as a precursor to their ambitious goal of setting up a ‘mangrove wall’ against the threat of sea erosion and the encroaching waves on the Vypeen coast.

Planting is done free of any plastic use, as the greens have chosen bamboo poles to plant seedlings. Around 1,500 seedlings collected from the Nayarambalam beach and nearby areas will be planted in bamboo cups in the first phase of the unique initiative.

“Climatic variations, including flash floods and sea erosion, had taken a huge toll on the Vypeen island, which was earlier dotted with pokkali farms and fish ponds. The decision to start a nursery and plant seedlings in bamboo cups is part of our decision to regain the lost glory of the region by promoting sustainable environment protection and planting mangroves and other sustainable species of plants along the shoreline,” said Manoj I.B., a member of the collective.

Bamboo stumps for the project were sourced from the banks of the Periyar at Uliyannoor near Aluva. Small bamboo cups were made from these stumps to plant mangrove seedlings. The volunteers later filled the cups with silt and manure. 

“The nursery for mangrove seedlings is part of our ongoing efforts to introduce a sustainable solution to the adverse impact of climate change along the coastal belt. We had planted around 2,000 mangrove seedlings and Portia tree stumps in areas like Veliyathamparambu and Puthenkadappuram at Nayarambalam after the collective was formed on August 1, 2021,” said Thomas M. Vazhappilly, secretary of Grassroute.

The green force had received technical help from the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (Kufos) here in their various endeavours. “As part of an experiment to create an artificial habitat for mangroves, we had planted mangrove saplings parallel to the sea wall at Thayyezhuthu beach In November last,” Mr. Thomas pointed out.