Roots of Resilience
As we row gently through the narrow tidal creeks of Kannur, the landscape slowly opens up—tangled roots cradling the banks, sunlight filtering through dense mangrove canopies, and the distant calls of waterbirds echoing across the calm. To the untrained eye, it may seem like a patch of wild green. But beneath this serenity lies a powerful story of resistance, revival, and community-led conservation.
At Ekathra, our Natural Heritage Experience is designed not just to showcase nature, but to connect our guests with its deeper narrative—of ecosystems, of people, and of the invisible threads that bind them together. In Kannur district, where Kerala’s mangrove cover is at its highest, we introduce our guests to a powerful conservation story led by two committed organizations—SEEK and the Wildlife Trust of India—whose efforts have transformed degraded and endangered mangrove lands into thriving ecosystems.
Kannur’s mangrove heritage is unique—not only because of its biodiversity, but also because it’s the birthplace of Kallen Pokkudan, the legendary “Mangrove Man” of Kerala. His legacy lives on in the passion and vision of organizations like SEEK (Society for Environmental Education in Kerala), one of the first environmental movements in the state. For decades, SEEK has been a beacon of environmental education, grassroots activism, and awareness building. But one of their most transformative contributions has been the decision to directly intervene in the fate of mangrove ecosystems threatened by rapid development.
In Kerala, most mangrove-covered land is under private ownership, making it dangerously vulnerable to real estate expansion, prawn farming, construction, and other developmental activities. Instead of just campaigning to stop these threats, SEEK took an extraordinary step—they started purchasing these ecologically sensitive lands from private owners and designated them as protected spaces. Once under threat, these areas began a quiet recovery. Some degraded zones regenerated naturally; others were restored through active planting of native mangrove species. Today, they stand as living testimony to the power of long-term vision and community action.
Not far from here, another wave of conservation is taking root. The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), a national organization with a strong footprint across India, has been working in Kannur under the Kannur Kandal Project. Their focus, much like SEEK’s, is on conservation through education and empowerment. At their demonstration centre near Payyanur, WTI conducts awareness programs, camps, and community outreach, especially with students and local youth. But their work goes far beyond classrooms. Like SEEK, WTI has also purchased privately owned mangrove patches, creating protected corridors that are now slowly coming back to life.
What makes this initiative deeply moving is the way these spaces have become living classrooms. As part of Ekathra’s curated experience, our guests get to explore these restored ecosystems—either on foot along muddy trails or gently gliding in rowboats and kayaks. Accompanied by naturalists and key members from SEEK and WTI, the journey transforms into a learning expedition. You hear stories of forgotten creeks rediscovered, of communities coming together to guard their mangrove edges, of birds returning to nest where there was once silence.
The experience is intimate and unhurried. You might spot mudskippers leaping between roots, kingfishers flashing above the water, or the delicate symmetry of mangrove seeds ready to fall and take root. But perhaps the most lasting impressions come from the people you meet—scientists, activists, teachers, and local leaders—who share not just facts, but their lived experiences of nurturing these ecosystems back from the brink.
In a time when ecological despair often dominates headlines, the mangrove conservation efforts in Kannur offer a quiet but powerful counter-narrative—one of resilience, regeneration, and hope. At Ekathra, we believe that travel should not only reveal beauty but deepen our connection with the world. Through this journey, we invite our guests to become part of a living story, one that continues to evolve with every seed planted, every patch restored, and every mind inspired.
