Residents and environmentalists in Kannur, northern Kerala, rallied on August 22, 2026, to protect Madayippara, a unique laterite plateau threatened by overtourism and commercial projects. Once a cultural and ecological haven, it faces mounting pressure from vehicles, waste, and an amusement park.
Madayippara, a plateau of exposed rock, shallow soils, grasslands, and wetlands, supports rich biodiversity, including nearly 700 flowering plant species, endemic grasses, and numerous butterfly and bird species. It also functions as a natural water-holding landscape, storing approximately 3.2 billion litres of water annually.
Increasing visitor numbers, vehicle traffic, and commercial activities are damaging the fragile ecosystem. Activists argue that successive small interventions and new attractions can collectively transform the functioning ecosystem into a commercial landscape, potentially leading to irreversible changes and species loss.
Source: Down To Earth