Kadalundi–Vallikkunnu Community Reserve is an

estuary An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Estuaries form a transition zone between river environments and maritime environment ...

and community reserve in

Malabar Coast The Malabar Coast is the southwestern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Geographically, it comprises the wettest regions of southern India, as the Western Ghats intercept the moisture-laden monsoon rains, especially on their westward-facing m ...

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

state,

south India South India, also known as Dakshina Bharata or Peninsular India, consists of the peninsular southern part of India. It encompasses the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, as well as the union territo ...

. It is the first community reserve in Kerala. In 2018 April, Kerala forest department declared it as an

ecotourism Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving responsible travel (using sustainable transport) to natural areas, conserving the environment, and improving the well-being of the local people. Its purpose may be to educate the traveler, to provide funds ...

center.

History

As per government order numbers G.O(MS)No.66/2007/F&WL dated 17-10-2007, Kadalundi–Vallikkunnu Community Reserve is established on October 17, 2007. It is the first community reserve in Kerala. In 2018 April, Kerala forest department declared it as an

center.

Description

Kadalundi-Vallikkunnu community reserve is an estuary and community reserves spread over Kadalundi village in

Kozhikode district Kozhikode (), or Calicut district, is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala, along its Southwestern Malabar Coast. The city of Kozhikode, also known as Calicut, is the district headquarters. The district is 67.15% urbanised. ...

and

Vallikunnu Vallikkunnu is a village in Tirurangadi Taluk of Malappuram district in the state of Kerala, India with an area of 25 km2. It is located 5 km north of Parappanangadi town and comes under the jurisdiction of Parappanangadi Police St ...

village of

Malappuram district Malappuram (), is one of the List of districts of Kerala, 14 districts in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Kerala, with a coastline of . It is the most populous district of Kerala, which is home to around 13% of the to ...

. It includes the

Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary The Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary lies in Vallikunnu Grama Panchayat of Malappuram district in Kerala, India. It spreads over a cluster of islands where the Kadalundipuzha River flows into the Arabian Sea. The Sanctuary hill is around 200 m above ...

and mangrove swamps in Kadalundi and Vallikunnu region. This community reserve covers an area of . Declared as a community reserve, it preserves the natural resources of the area, including the various species of flora and fauna found within a radius of 200 m on both sides of the Kadalundi River, as well as the traditional occupations and handicrafts of the locals. About 110 species of

waterfowl Anseriformes is an order of birds also known as waterfowl that comprises about 180 living species of birds in three families: Anhimidae (three species of screamers), Anseranatidae (the magpie goose), and Anatidae, the largest family, which in ...

s, including 53 migratory birds, have been recorded here. It has been made a protected area considering its importance in terms of the diversity of wetland birds and the heavy anthropogenic pressure.

References

Protected areas of Kerala 2007 establishments in Kerala Protected areas established in 2007 {{DEFAULTSORT:Kadalundi-Vallikkunnu Community Reserve