silent valley national park

Every year the Kerala government presents the Chief Minister’s Forest Medal for exceptional efforts by individuals who have worked for the development of the society and the conservation of the environment. This is one of the highest honours that Maari has received so far.

In the 1970s, Kerala’s Silent Valley faced destruction from a hydroelectric project. With no internet or social media, people like poet Sugathakumari led a decade-long protest that saved the forest.

The four Friends of Chendamangalam didn’t stop at saving the stock and selling it; they decided to go further and get the looms back so that the weavers could start their work.

Meet Gangadharan Menon – a teacher, travel writer, photographer, and granddad. He played an important role in saving one of India’s beautiful evergreen forests about 32 years ago by making a documentary film.