The mangroves in Kannur, located on the Malabar Coast of Kerala, constitute 43.08 percent of the state’s total mangrove forest cover. They span 9.1 sq km (NCESS 2023), with reports suggesting that the mangrove vegetation of the region comprises 15 species of mangroves (including the uncommon Rhizophora apiculata).

The mangroves here are crucial for this ecosystem, hubs of biodiversity, which play host to 87 species of fish, 83 species of birds, and 13 species of mammals.

Among the birds sighted are little egret, grey heron, and water birds like oriental darter (Anhinga melanogaster).

But aside from their ecological importance, the mangroves are an integral part of the lives of people living in the coastal communities, who depend on them for fodder, medicines, and firewood. They also act as barriers against cyclones........

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