Why this Media Workshop?
Kerala stands at the frontline of climate and biodiversity challenges, shaped by its Western Ghats vulnerability, Arabian Sea proximity, and recurring disasters such as floods, landslides, and cyclones. At the same time, the state is pursuing ambitious goals of carbon neutrality by 2050 and most biodiverse-friendly territory by 2035, safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystem integrity, protecting coastal ecosystems, and addressing the growing threat of man-animal conflicts and invasive alien species.
The media plays a decisive role in shaping public discourse and policy awareness. Yet, specialized reporting on biodiversity and climate adaptation remains limited. This workshop is designed to strengthen the capacity of mid career journalists, equipping them with scientific insights, governance perspectives, and community voices. By engaging with themes such as ESA resilience, ecosystem integrity, agrobiodiversity, marine & coastal adaptation, urban biodiversity, man-animal conflict and co-existence, and invasive species, participants will be encouraged to ask critical questions, uncover human stories, and connect Kerala’s local realities to global Climate, Sustainable Development and Biodiversity frameworks.
We expect that the workshop will ensure biodiversity is not seen as a technical subject alone, but as a socio-ecological product, and aliving narrative of resilience, equity, and sustainability. By empowering the media, Kerala can amplify its climate commitments, influence public opinion, and strengthen policies for a climate resilient, biodiverse friendly, and equitable future.
Background
Kerala stands at a critical juncture where climate resilience and biodiversity governance must converge to secure sustainable futures. Recent extremes have exposed the state’s vulnerability: daytime temperatures soared 4–5°C above normal in July 2026, the monsoon deficit reached nearly 35% in southern districts, and cloudburst driven torrential rains triggered landslides and flash floods even amid rainfall scarcity. Looking ahead, the forecasted El Niño conditions are expected to prolong dry spells, intensify heat waves, and further depress monsoon rainfall, with serious consequences for food production, water security, and rural livelihoods. These erratic patterns—heat stress, floods, and coastal erosion—are intensifying ecological stress, while biodiversity loss compounds risks to food security and community rights.
Towards achieving climate resilience, Kerala’s State Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (K SBSAP) 2025–2035 lays out a transformative roadmap to conserve, restore, and sustainably manage the state’s exceptional biological and cultural heritage. Anchored in ecological integrity, social equity, and participatory governance, it aligns with India’s updated NBSAP (2024–2030), the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM GBF), and the SDGs, offering a direct response to the escalating planetary emergency identified by Rockström et al. (2023).
With six of nine planetary boundaries already breached, including biodiversity integrity and land system change, the K SBSAP’s integrated targets position Kerala as a proactive leader in reversing biodiversity loss and regenerating socio ecological resilience. To translate K SBSAP into practice, the Kerala State Biodiversity Board undertakes a series of workshops and awareness programs, engaging diverse stakeholders to embed the K SBSAP into local action.
We have carefully chosen six sub themes—Climate Resilience & Carbon Neutrality, Agrobiodiversity & Food Security, Marine & Coastal Ecosystems, Urban Biodiversity & Heat Stress, Man–Animal Conflict, and Invasive Alien Species, along with Field Learning Visits—to reflect Kerala’s most urgently addressed socio ecological challenges and governance priorities. See the Media Engagement Framework table below that maps each theme to current issues, policy needs, and communication strategies.
| Media Engagement Framework Table | |||
| Sub Theme | Current Issue | Policy Need | Communication Need |
| Climate Resilience & Carbon Neutrality | Floods, landslides, erosion; rising emissions | Integrate ESA protection into disaster planning; embed biodiversity in carbon sequestration within SPCC & NDC frameworks | Documenting biodiversity buffers and carbon‑rich ecosystems; human stories of resilience; Kerala’s climate leadership |
| Agrobiodiversity & Food Security | Genetic erosion, monocropping; loss of traditional crop and animal breed diversity | Farmers’ rights, seed diversity, community seed banks; breed conservation programs | Custodians of crop and breed diversity; food security narratives |
| Marine & Coastal Ecosystems | Fisheries decline, coral bleaching, coastal vulnerability | ABS for marine genetic resources; sustainable fisheries; blue carbon integration | Coastal biodiversity registers; coastal livelihood stories; resilience against cyclones and sea‑level rise |
| Urban Biodiversity & Heat Stress | Heat stress, habitat loss, wetland encroachment | Green corridors, wetland protection, biodiversity parks; embed biodiversity in master plans | Monitoring wetlands & parks; urban climate adaptation; human stories of safeguarding ecosystems |
| Man–Animal Conflict | Rising wildlife attacks: 390 deaths and 5,400 injuries (2021–25); crop raids and property damage | Conflict mitigation embedded in biodiversity governance and climate adaptation; equitable compensation schemes | Stories of conflict hotspots; community vigilance; climate linkages; voices of affected farmers and tribal households |
| Invasive Alien Species | Spread of Senna, Mikania, Eichhornia, Tilapia | Monitoring, eradication programs, awareness campaigns; integrate into K‑SBSAP and disaster resilience | Stories of community vigilance; impacts on farming, fisheries, and native biodiversity; linking eradication to Local Biodiversity Funds |
Kerala’s vulnerability to climate disasters is closely tied to its Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) in the Western Ghats, where 8,711.98 sq. km across 98 villages have been identified as ecologically fragile. These ESA villages act as natural shields against floods, landslides, and coastal erosion, as seen during the devastating 2018 floods and recurring landslides in Idukki and Wayanad. At the same time, Kerala has set an ambitious target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, positioning biodiversity conservation as a central pillar of its climate strategy. Forests, mangroves, and wetlands serve as major carbon sinks, buffering climate impacts while sustaining livelihoods. This integrated approach aligns with Kerala’s State Action Plan on Climate Change (SPCC) and India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, emphasizing ecosystem‑based adaptation and community benefit.
Questions to be Pondered
- ESA & resilience: How can ESA villages in the Western Ghats, identified as biodiversity hotspots, be portrayed as frontline shields against floods, landslides, and erosion?
- Ecosystem services: In what ways can documenting ecosystem services—like flood control, landslide prevention, and carbon sequestration—be turned into compelling media narratives, especially in Kerala’s fragile hill districts?
- Carbon sinks: How can forests, wetlands, and mangroves along the Arabian Sea coast be communicated as Kerala’s living carbon banks within SPCC and NDC frameworks?
- Community benefit: How can stories of equitable access to carbon credits and climate finance through Local Biodiversity Funds inspire public trust and participation in vulnerable coastal and mountain communities?
- Policy integration: What mechanisms are needed to embed ESA protection and carbon neutrality into Kerala’s disaster management and climate governance frameworks, given its dual exposure to Western Ghats landslides and Arabian Sea cyclones?
Expert Institutions to be engaged
Institute for Climate Change Studies (ICCS), Kottayam (KSCSTE); Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA); Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company (TNGCC); Centre for Climate Change & Adaptation Research, Anna University
Kerala’s 600 km coastline is among the most climate‑vulnerable in India. Sea‑level rise has already eroded nearly 45% of beaches, while coral bleaching in Lakshadweep signals wider marine ecosystem stress. Fish catch has declined by about 20% in the last decade, threatening the livelihoods of coastal communities. Climate adaptation here requires strengthening community‑based coastal governance, integrating biodiversity registers into blue carbon projects, and ensuring sustainable fisheries. Coastal BMCs can play a frontline role by documenting marine biodiversity, supporting ABS mechanisms for marine genetic resources, and linking local registers to climate resilience strategies.
Questions to be Pondered
- Community fisheries governance: How can community‑based governance for sustainable fisheries along Kerala’s Arabian Sea coast and inland waterwaysbe communicated as a frontline climate adaptation measure, especially in the face of warming seas and declining catch?
- ABS for marine resources: In what ways can Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanisms for marine genetic resources be highlighted to ensure equitable benefit sharing for coastal and island communities?
- Blue carbon & adaptation: How can linking BMC registers to blue carbon projects and coastal climate adaptation strategies be portrayed as Kerala’s innovative response to sea‑level rise, coral bleaching, and fisheries decline?
- Cyclones & coastal vulnerability: How can media narratives capture Kerala’s dual exposure to Arabian Sea cyclones and Western Ghats River floods, showing the compounded risks for coastal livelihoods?
- Livelihood resilience: How can fisherfolk stories of adaptation—such as shifting gear, diversifying income, or restoring mangroves—be turned into compelling accounts of resilience and equity?
Expert Institutions to be engaged
Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kochi; Kerala University of Fisheries & Ocean Studies (KUFOS), TNGCC Coastal Restoration Mission
Kerala has recorded a sharp rise in man–animal conflicts in recent years. Between 2021and 2025, official reports documented 390 human deaths and over 5,400 injuries from wildlife attacks. Elephants alone accounted for 111 fatalities, while wild boars, tigers, gaurs, and snakebites contributed to the toll. Annual deaths peaked at 113 in 2021–22, before declining to 67 in 2024–25, reflecting both the scale of the crisis and the impact of mitigation measures.
These conflicts are concentrated in Western Ghats districts such as Wayanad, Idukki, and Palakkad, where shrinking forests, invasive species spread (Mikania micrantha, Senna spectabilis), and climate‑induced habitat shifts push wildlife closer to human settlements. Compensation disbursed since 2021 has exceeded ₹41 crore, yet affected communities often face delays and inequities.
Biodiversity loss—through deforestation, monocropping, and wetland degradation—reduces natural food and water sources for wildlife. Climate change compounds the problem: erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, and floods alter migration routes and intensify crop raids. Thus, man–animal conflict is not just a conservation issue but a climate adaptation challenge, demanding integrated governance and community participation.
Questions to be Pondered
- Conflict hotspots: How can media narratives highlight Kerala’s conflict hotspots in the Western Ghats, where biodiversity loss and climate stress converge?
- Community vigilance: In what ways can stories of crop protection, fencing, and coexistence practices be turned into compelling accounts of resilience?
- Policy integration: How can conflict mitigation be embedded into Kerala’s biodiversity governance and climate adaptation frameworks?
- Compensation & equity: How can media spotlight gaps in compensation schemes and equitable support for affected farmers and households?
- Climate linkages: How can conflicts be framed as indicators of climate change impacts—erratic rainfall, habitat shifts, and invasive species pressure—rather than isolated incidents?
Expert Institutions to be engaged
Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI), Peechi; Kerala Forest Department Wildlife Wing
Kerala has recorded a sharp rise in man–animal conflicts in recent years. Between 2021and 2025, official reports documented 390 human deaths and over 5,400 injuries from wildlife attacks. Elephants alone accounted for 111 fatalities, while wild boars, tigers, gaurs, and snakebites contributed to the toll. Annual deaths peaked at 113 in 2021–22, before declining to 67 in 2024–25, reflecting both the scale of the crisis and the impact of mitigation measures.
These conflicts are concentrated in Western Ghats districts such as Wayanad, Idukki, and Palakkad, where shrinking forests, invasive species spread (Mikania micrantha, Senna spectabilis), and climate‑induced habitat shifts push wildlife closer to human settlements. Compensation disbursed since 2021 has exceeded ₹41 crore, yet affected communities often face delays and inequities.
Biodiversity loss—through deforestation, monocropping, and wetland degradation—reduces natural food and water sources for wildlife. Climate change compounds the problem: erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, and floods alter migration routes and intensify crop raids. Thus, man–animal conflict is not just a conservation issue but a climate adaptation challenge, demanding integrated governance and community participation.
Questions to be Pondered
- Conflict hotspots: How can media narratives highlight Kerala’s conflict hotspots in the Western Ghats, where biodiversity loss and climate stress converge?
- Community vigilance: In what ways can stories of crop protection, fencing, and coexistence practices be turned into compelling accounts of resilience?
- Policy integration: How can conflict mitigation be embedded into Kerala’s biodiversity governance and climate adaptation frameworks?
- Compensation & equity: How can media spotlight gaps in compensation schemes and equitable support for affected farmers and households?
- Climate linkages: How can conflicts be framed as indicators of climate change impacts—erratic rainfall, habitat shifts, and invasive species pressure—rather than isolated incidents?
Expert Institutions to be engaged
Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI), Peechi; Kerala Forest Department Wildlife Wing
Kerala’s agriculture is under mounting climate stress. Paddy cultivation has declined by over 75% since the 1970s, reducing from more than 8 lakh hectares to less than 2 lakh hectares today. Monocropping of cash crops such as rubber and banana has heightened vulnerability to pests, erratic rainfall, and droughts. The genetic erosion of traditional rice varieties and tubers undermines long‑term food security, while climate change intensifies risks of crop failure and livelihood loss. Strengthening agrobiodiversity is therefore central to climate adaptation: diverse cropping systems enhance resilience to floods, droughts, and heat stress. BMCs, as custodians of crop diversity and traditional knowledge, can lead in documenting crop wild relatives, conserving seed diversity, and ensuring farmers’ rights under Access & Benefit Sharing (ABS). By linking biodiversity registers with Local Biodiversity Funds (LBFs), communities can build climate‑resilient agriculture that safeguards food security
.Questions to be Pondered
- Crop wild relatives & traditional varieties: How can the conservation of crop wild relatives, traditional crop varieties, and indigenous animal breeds be communicated as the backbone of climate‑resilient farming and food systems in Kerala’s vulnerable landscapes?
- Farmers’ rights & seed diversity: In what ways can farmers’ rights, community seed diversity initiatives, and breed conservation programs be highlighted as adaptation strategies against monsoon deficits, heat waves, and pest outbreaks?
- Local Biodiversity Funds: How can strengthening LBFs be portrayed as a pathway to support agrobiodiversity and traditional breed conservation projects, ensuring equitable benefits for farming and pastoral communities across Kerala’s vulnerable districts?
Expert Institutions to be engaged
Kerala Agricultural University (KAU); MSSRF Community Agro‑Biodiversity Centres (Wayanad), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore
Kerala’s cities are facing intensifying climate stress. Thiruvananthapuram recorded 38°C in April 2024, the highest in decades, while shrinking wetlands and fragmented green corridors have reduced the city’s natural cooling and flood‑buffering capacity. To address this, KSBB has launched a City Biodiversity Index for Thiruvananthapuram, based on the Singapore Index framework. The CBI maps urban trees, wetlands, ecological corridors, and biodiversity parks, and provides an indicator‑wise scorecard to embed biodiversity into urban planning. This initiative positions Urban BMCs as watchdogs, ensuring that biodiversity parks, wetlands, and green corridors are integrated into climate‑resilient city frameworks.
Questions to be Pondered –
- Urban wetlands & parks: How can urban wetlands, lakes, and biodiversity parks be portrayed as natural cooling systems that mitigate floods and heat stress in Kerala’s cities?
- Urban BMCs & CBI: In what ways can ecological stress be monitored through Urban BMCs and the City Biodiversity Index, making biodiversity governance visible and measurable in city planning?
- Climate resilience frameworks: How can biodiversity be embedded into urban climate resilience frameworks and master plans, ensuring wetlands and green corridors are protected against unplanned expansion?
- Arabian Sea proximity: How can Kerala’s coastal cities, exposed to both Arabian Sea cyclones and inland heat waves, be communicated as uniquely vulnerable, requiring biodiversity‑based adaptation?
- Human stories of adaptation: How can narratives of communities safeguarding wetlands, lakes, and peri‑urban ecosystems be turned into compelling media stories of resilience and vigilance?
Expert Institutions to be engaged
Centre for Water Resources Development & Management (CWRDM), Kozhikode; Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA). Anna University Centre for Climate Change & Adaptation Research
Kerala faces a mounting ecological threat from invasive alien species such as Senna spectabilis, Mikania micrantha, Eichhornia crassipes, and Tilapia. These species spread rapidly across forests, wetlands, and rivers, choking native vegetation, disrupting fisheries, degrading soil, and intensifying human–wildlife conflicts. Tackling this challenge requires coordinated monitoring and mapping, community‑led eradication programs, and strong awareness campaigns. Embedding invasive species management into the K‑SBSAP 2025–2035 and disaster resilience frameworks is essential, while linking eradication efforts to LBFs ensures communities benefit from restoration. Media engagement can play a pivotal role by showcasing stories of community vigilance and highlighting the impacts on farming, fisheries, and native biodiversity.
Questions to be Pondered
- Monitoring & mapping: How can invasive spread across ESA villages, wetlands, and forest corridors be tracked and communicated as a pressing ecological story for Kerala?
- Community‑led eradication: In what ways can Kerala’s “Wayanad model” of community‑led eradication be highlighted as a replicable success story for other districts and states?
- Policy integration: How can invasive species management be embedded into the K‑SBSAP 2025–2035 and disaster resilience frameworks, making it a mainstream governance priority?
- Awareness campaigns: How can impacts on farming, fisheries, and native biodiversity be showcased through stories of community vigilance, turning ecological threats into compelling media narratives?
- Equitable governance: How can eradication programs be linked to Local Biodiversity Funds to ensure communities benefit directly from restoration and resilience efforts?
Expert Institutions to be engaged
KFRI Forest Ecology & Biodiversity Conservation Division; Kerala Agricultural University invasive species labs
Site 1: Peringamala
Peringamala, one of Kerala’s largest grama panchayats, lies in the Western Ghats of Thiruvananthapuram district. Identified as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA), it is rich in forests, streams, and endemic species. The Peringamala Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) has prepared a People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) documenting medicinal plants, agro‑biodiversity, and traditional ecological knowledge. The village faces landslide risks due to fragile terrain and heavy rainfall and is also classified as a medium conflict‑prone zone for man–animal interactions (elephants, wild boars, macaques).
Learning Value:
Participants will gain insights into ESA governance, biodiversity documentation, and community‑based resilience strategies, especially in managing dual challenges of landslides and wildlife conflicts.
Site 2: Marine & Coastal Ecosystems Field Visit
The Mangrove restoration site at kadinamkulam BMC and Perumathura beach site visits proposed. kadinamk This site offers a practical case study in blue carbon ecosystems, community‑based fisheries governance, and Access & Benefit Sharing (ABS) for marine genetic resources.
Learning Value for Participants:
During the coastal field engagement, participants will observe firsthand the impacts of coastal erosion and climate stress, gaining a direct sense of Kerala’s vulnerability to sea‑level rise and extreme events. They will interact with local fishing communities and Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) members, hearing stories of resilience strategies that blend traditional knowledge with modern adaptation practices. Most importantly, they will understand how BMC registers serve as living documents, linking biodiversity data with climate adaptation projects such as blue carbon initiatives and sustainable fisheries.
Site 3: Agrobiodiversity Planning – Thiruvananthapuram
The proposed field visit will connect participants directly to Kerala’s agrobiodiversity planning and resilience strategies.
- Kerala Agricultural University, Vellayani – the state’s premier agricultural research hub, with gene banks, crop diversity trials, and participatory breeding programs. It provides an institutional perspective on linking biodiversity documentation with policy, extension, and climate‑resilient agriculture.
Learning Values for Participants:
Participants will gain a holistic perspective on agrobiodiversity planning by engaging directly with both grassroots custodians and institutional actors. They will understand how individual farmers safeguard genetic diversity and link it to Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) compliance, seeing firsthand the role of traditional knowledge in conservation. By observing indigenous seed strains in the field, participants will appreciate how these varieties strengthen resilience against floods, droughts, and pests, making agrobiodiversity a frontline climate adaptation strategy. At the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), they will gain insights into crop breeding, gene banks, and participatory research, connecting community custodianship with scientific innovation. The visit will also highlight collaborations between BMCs, farmers, and universities, showing how biodiversity documentation and benefit‑sharing negotiations are embedded in governance. Taken together, the experience offers a continuum from traditional custodianship to modern science, reinforcing Kerala’s integrated approach to biodiversity and climate resilience.
Other proposed sites include
- Punchakkari Wetland – Part of the Vellayani ecosystem, supporting migratory birds, aquatic biodiversity, and traditional farming. Demonstrates wetlands as natural sponges regulating floods and microclimates.
- Vellayani Lake – The largest freshwater lake in the city, crucial for irrigation, drinking water, and biodiversity. Highlights challenges of urban encroachment and pollution, and the role of BMCs in ecological monitoring.
Learning Values for Participants
Participants will gain a holistic urban perspective by exploring how biodiversity safeguards Kerala’s cities against intensifying climate stress. They will understand the role of urban wetlands as natural cooling systems, observing how these ecosystems reduce heat stress and buffer floods in rapidly expanding urban landscapes. Through direct engagement, they will see how BMCs act as watchdogs, monitoring ecological stress and safeguarding biodiversity within city limits. The program will also highlight how wetland conservation is linked to Kerala’s City Biodiversity Index (CBI), embedding ecological assets into urban climate adaptation strategies. By interacting with peri‑urban farming and fisheries communities, participants will appreciate the community–urban interface, where livelihoods and ecological balance coexist. Taken together, these experiences will provide a comprehensive understanding of urban resilience, showing how biodiversity planning integrates natural systems, governance, and community action into Kerala’s climate adaptation framework.