Support Kaziranga's Flood-Hit Wildlife in India

Dear patron,

Hope you have been keeping well!

Today’s updates are from the Kannur district of Kerala. In this region we have been running a mangrove restoration project. The project aims to ensure the survival of existing mangroves and increase the acreage of such coastal wetlands across Kannur, potentially making it a prototype for other coastal districts in Kerala and rest of the country.

Mangrove forests are unique ecosystems, extremely rich in biodiversity, growing along inter-tidal coastal habitats such as shorelines, estuaries and backwaters. They also act as barriers against cyclones and tsunamis, prevent coastal erosion, and maintain inland water quality by preventing sea water intrusion.

However, mangrove forests have faced considerable destruction the world over, with less than half of the original acreage remaining. The acreage of mangroves in Kerala has also reduced drastically over the years, with only 1750 hectares of an estimated historical 70,000 hectares remaining. Conversion into coconut plantations or other agricultural land, aquaculture, unscientific water regulation, population pressures, real estate development, inadequate enforcement of laws, etc have all contributed towards mangrove destruction.

Kannur has 7.55 sq km of mangroves, i.e. around 45% of Kerala’s total mangrove forest cover. Nearly 90% of these forests are under private ownership and are therefore highly threatened. WTI therefore, with support from the international NGO World Land Trust, secured a parcel of mangrove land in the region. The project is based in ‘Kunhimangalam’ village, which is one of the largest mangrove villages in Kerala.

The land secured has been used to establish a Mangrove Interpretation Centre, located in the natural ecosystem, for mangrove-based research and education, and the promotion of mangrove restoration through community and government participation. A mangrove nursery has also been established and community-based initiatives launched to enhance public awareness and reduce threats to mangroves. Special efforts are being made to generate scientific interest about mangroves among the youth.

The local community has a very important role in this project, and are important stakeholders in the protection of the mangroves. In times of the pandemic, we distributed 5000 masks to the people of ‘Kunhimangalam’ village. Activities like this help us build trust among the people.

We would like to thank you for your support and trust. We shall keep sending you similar updates. Till then, stay safe and take care.

With regards,

Team WTI

“Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.”

- Thich Nhat Hanh

Dear patron,

Today’s updates are on hope and resilience – how they keep us going in the face of adversity.

The world is battling the COVID 19 pandemic and we are all in this together. We are grateful that your support for our work never ceased despite the difficult times. And neither did our teams stop working.

The pandemic crippled the world and caught us all off guard. Our stakeholders, especially the local communities living around protected areas have been severely affected. A disrupted supply chain worsened by their remote habitation resulted in poor access to even basic necessities like food grains and sanitization facilities.

Wildlife Trust of India, through its Rapid Action Projects (and other long-term projects), has been working tirelessly, to support these communities. In this update, we elaborate and present to you one such initiative undertaken in ‘Jigaon’ village through a Rapid Action Project (RAP)*.

‘Jigaon’ is a small village located in the periphery of the Eagle-nest Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh. It comprises around 650 inhabitants, including natives (mostly farmers), and migrants from other states (daily wagers, carpenters and masons).

On 21^st of June, a Jigaon-based NGO, ‘Zgang Depga’, distributed ration kits- rice, pulses, oil and salt - to 105 households in Jigaon village and adjacent hamlets, with WTI’s support and sponsorship. To prevent social gatherings, the village elders, upon consultation, suggested door-to-door distribution of the ration to the households who were in need of help. The volunteers distributed the ration kits to 105 households covering Lingdochhok, Yokmu, Bichirekngu and Jigaon villages. Six households, from the adjacent Okkhorbari hamlet, who needed ration kits were also supported.

Wildlife Trust of India has been working with these communities and rangers for over two decades. While they are the frontrunners of conservation, we continue to stand by them as they help us keep wildlife #Foreverwild.

We are hopeful that things will be better soon. Till then, stay safe!

Warm regards,

Team WTI