🌿 Restoring the Roots: Ali Farbani’s Fight for the Mangroves of Kadalundi
Location: Kadalundi–Vallikunnu Community Reserve, Malappuram, Kerala
Changemaker: Ali Farbani | School for Social Transformation – Edition 6
Focus: Mangrove Restoration | Community Engagement | Climate Action
The Call of the Mangroves
Kadalundi is one of Kerala’s most vibrant coastal ecosystems — a meeting point of river, sea, forest, and birdlife. Home to over 180 bird species and vital mangrove forests, it forms a rich ecological corridor in Malappuram district. But beneath its natural beauty, the region is under silent siege. Plastic pollution, mangrove degradation, and fragmented institutional responses threaten this once-thriving coastal sanctuary.
Ali Farbani, a young changemaker from Malappuram, heard that call for help and chose to act.
Roots in the Community, Vision for Change
As part of his community action project with the School for Social Transformation (SST), Ali set out to understand the exact nature of ecological threats in Kadalundi. Through interviews with forest officials, local residents, and environmentalists, he documented decades of mangrove damage caused by tidal plastic waste, sand deposition, and unchecked human activity.
His solution? Rebuild not just the mangroves — but the community’s relationship with them.
Action on the Ground: From Awareness to Planting
Ali mobilized a group of 10–15 local volunteers and coordinated with the Forest Department to organize a mangrove clean-up and plantation drive on World Environment Day, June 5. Armed with field knowledge and community spirit, the team planted over 25 new mangrove saplings in degraded patches of the reserve.
Beyond planting, Ali created space for dialogue — about shared ownership of the ecosystem, the threats it faces, and the urgent need for citizen action.
Building for the Long Haul
Ali’s project doesn't end with one event. He’s now exploring the possibility of forming a dedicated NGO focused on mangrove restoration, advocacy, and education in the Kadalundi region. He also plans to partner with legal and environmental experts to push for stronger local-level regulations and long-term protections.
What began as a student project is evolving into a community-driven conservation model for Kerala’s coasts.
In His Words
"These mangroves are not just trees — they’re life buffers. They hold our soil, protect our birds, and absorb our carbon. If we don’t act now, we lose not just nature, but our identity."
— Ali Farbani
Explore more such changemaker stories:
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📧 For collaborations or volunteering: mubu.hydroos726@gmail.com