Kallen Pokkudan, widely remembered as the Mangrove Man of India, devoted his life to restoring Kerala’s shrinking mangrove forests despite facing poverty, social discrimination and persistent opposition. Pokkudan passed away on September 25, 2015, leaving behind a legacy that continues to shape Kerala’s environmental movement. After stepping away from active politics, Pokkudan began planting mangrove saplings along the marshes of the Pazhayangadi River in 1989. Restoring Kerala’s Fragile Mangrove EcosystemPokkudan’s work became increasingly significant as Kerala’s mangrove forests continued to shrink because of rapid urbanisation, infrastructure development and land conversion. According to the source material, Kannur district contains approximately half of Kerala’s mangrove cover, making the region especially important for conservation.