Kallen Pokkudan from Kannur is a great personality who has put in so much of hard work, dedication and sacrifice to regenerate large sections of lost mangroves. A big salute to him. 
I also offer my salute to Mrs Mariamma Kurien, from Kottayam, who was known as "Kandal Amma" or Mangrove mother, whose mission it was to conserve mangroves. In October her fourth death anniversary was commemorated.

Mangrove conservation day observed in Kottayam - The Hindu

Mangrove conservation day observed in Kottayam - The Hindu

Carbon sequestration by wetlands

Tropical wetlands store 80 percent more carbon than temperate wetlands, reports a new study that compared ecosystems in Costa Rica and Ohio.
William Mitsch of Ohio State University and colleagues found that the tropical wetland in Costa Rica accumulated around 1 ton of carbon per acre [2.63 t/ha] per year, while the temperate wetland in Ohio accumulated 0.6 tons of carbon per acre [1.4 t/ha] per year.
“Finding out how much carbon has accumulated over a specific time period gives us an indication of the average rate of carbon sequestration, telling us how valuable each wetland is as a carbon sink,” said Mitsch. “We already know wetlands are outstanding coastal protection systems, and yet wetlands continue to be destroyed around the planet. Showing that wetlands are gigantic carbon sequestration machines might end up being the most convincing reason yet to preserve them.”

What is a wetland ?

It is an area or stretch of land that has soil holding water or is saturated with moisture such as a swamp, marsh, bog, fen, mangrove, paddyfield.

It may be natural or constructed.

Wetlands provide a safe and essential environment to numerous and diverse forms of animal and plant life.

Did you know?
Mangroves are important to our planet as carbon sinks, organic biocyclic plants and bioshields against natural calamities such as tsunami. MSSRF reports that the mangroves on the east coast acted as bioshields, bearing the brunt of the tsunami that hit Indian coast on 26th December, 2004. I believe that the mangroves at Ayiramthengu would also have significantly reduced the damage done by the tsunami on the Alappad coastal region of Kerala. Exactly five years later let us now thank NATURE for the protection the mangroves rendered. Let ud strive to nurture them.
Thomas

The red mangrove, Rhizophora

Rhizophora

A view of the mangroves at Kadalundy, Kozhikode

Avicennia and Rhizophora