Drive to save mangroves

KANNUR,  
The Hindu, October 4, 2014

A public awareness campaign about the importance of protecting mangroves will begin here on October 11.

Agriculture Minister K.P. Mohanan will flag-off the Kandal Vana Samrakshana Yatra in which 15 MLAs from different parts of the State will participate.

The ‘yatra’ is planned as visits by the people’s representatives to the mangrove-rich areas in the State to highlight the message of mangrove protection. Kannur, which accounts for the largest extent of mangrove vegetation in the State, has been selected for the launch of the campaign. The yatra here is being organised by the Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department and the Taliparamba Janakeeya Vikasana Samithi. A release issued by MLAs T.V. Rajesh and James Mathew said a proposal for the campaign to send across the message of mangrove conservation was made at a workshop held at the Kerala Forest Research Institute at Peechi on August 29 and 30.

The MLAs would visit the mangroves in boats as part of the campaign, they said.