Kerala is among the top states where erosion is more than 40%. The State is in a bad shape, as 45% of its coast is eroding. Construction of structures at the coast like harbours, beach mining and building of dams on rivers are the main anthropogenic causes for coastal erosion.

In view of conservation of coastal ecosystem and preserve the coastal belt, Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department, Social Forestry Division of Alleppey, Government of Kerala organized a webinar on Coastal Afforestation on October 4, 2020, with the participation from the officials of Forest Department, Govt. of Kerala. Dr. Haridas V.R, the theme lead for Climate desk of Caritas India was the resource person for this 2-hour long webinar.

The Kerala coast being part of the west coast is prone to coastal submergence and it is evident that the around 800 meters of land are taken by sea for the last 10 years in Alleppey area. Hence it is the high time to promote coastal afforestation measures with the active involvement of the community in the coastal areas.

Alleppey coastal area used to have 10 mangrove species which include Aegiceras corniculatum, Avicennia marina, Avicennia officinalis, Bruguiera cylindrica, Bruguiera gymnorhiza, Excoecaria agallocha, Kandelia candel, Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata and Sonneratia caseolaris and mangrove associates such as Calophyllim inophyllum (Punna), Thespesia Populnea (poovarasu), Casuarina (Kattadi) and Annona Glabra (Kadalatha). One should look for fake id makers lines viewing the readable id surveys under the sites. The cards are created in top notch gear in processing plants. To make a phony ID card really unclear from genuine government provided IDs is one troublesome work.  In the last two decades, mangrove populations have witnessed annual loss between 0.16 and 0.39% globally due to various anthropogenic activities

The webinar discussed the common practices of stabilizing sand dunes through erecting micro windbreaks across the wind direction in parallel strips using local available plan materials and revegetating the sand dunes by planting the seedlings or sowing seeds used to protect the coastal areas.  Deep planting protects the planting secure root development in comparatively moist sandy layer. Afforestation in these areas calls for rapid stabilization of the drifting sand dunes, maximum moisture conservation, and proper utilization, selection of suitable species and efficient planting technique.