The Andaman & Nicobar Islands
The Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, situated 1200 km from the Indian mainland in the Bay of Bengal, comprises 350 tropical islands and islets of outstanding beauty and diversity. The islands support a rich plant and animal life, as well as tribes that are still hostile to external contact. Unfortunately, unabated settlement from the Indian mainland with its associated problems, hunting, grazing, logging, over harvesting of marine resources, introduction of new diseases, threatens this paradise.

Purpose of ANET

ANET’s primary aim is to help ensure the long-term survival of as much of the A&N natural biodiversity as feasible, whilst recognising the needs of the human inhabitants, especially the threatened aborigines. Since little conservation work or directly relevant research has been conducted in the islands prior to ANET’s formation in 1989, the Team has found it necessary to tackle several different, though ultimately complementary, fields.

By virtue of its permanent research and education base and its well-maintained relationships with the Andaman and Nicobar Island Department of Environment and Forests, other departments and the people of the islands and, ANET is in a unique position to make tangible contributions to conservation in the archipelago.

ANET today is a member of the following:

1 Andaman & Nicobar Islands State Wildlife Board, Port Blair 2 Andaman & Nicobar Islands State Level Environmental Council, Port Blair 3 Andaman & Nicobar Islands Coastal Zone Management Authority 4 Monitoring Committee for the Working Plan for the South Andaman Division 5 Andaman Science Association

ANET’S IMPACT TO DATE

The following is a resume of some of ANET’s activities:
In 1991, under WWF-India’s Community Biodiversity Programme, and with additional support from the Indo-German Social Service Society, a small nursery of forest tree species was initiated, which included distribution of seedlings to the local people and planting fallow land in the Wandoor area. Further, WWF-International provided initial seed money for setting up of an arboretum of rare and endemic flora, supervised by Aparna Gopal.
In 1991, researcher Aparna Singh conducted the first of a series of environmental education programmes in schools in South Andaman, sponsored by the Department of Environment, New Delhi.
In 1991, researcher Jayashree Ratnam carried out a study on the status, natural history, distribution and behavioral ecology of the endemic Andaman day gecko, sponsored by the World Congress of herpetology.
In 1992, researcher Nina Sengupta of Development Alternatives, New Delhi, conducted a study on the utilization patterns of forest produce by settlers in Wandoor Village, sponsored by ANET.
In 1992, researcher Miriam Paul, attached to the Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi, conducted a study on tribal displacement and status of the negrito tribes in the Andaman Islands, with logistic support from ANET.
ANET was appointed, in 1993, to the Special Committee of the Great Nicobar Island Biosphere Reserve and was asked to devise environmental research projects for this unique island.
Senior researcher, Satish Bhaskar, trained A & N Forest Department personnel in 1993-1996 to monitor nesting sea turtles and protection of nesting beaches. ANET was appointed by the Department to formulate an action plan for long term conservation and management programmes for the endangered sea turtles, their seagrass feeding grounds and  nesting beaches. As a direct result, several islands with nesting beaches were added to the Marine National Park.
Projects Director, Harry Andrews, conducted and trained forest Department personnel in wetlands assessment as well as monitoring populations of crocodiles and the critically endangered Andaman Teal.
At the request of the Department, ANET developed an action plan for conservation and management of Protected areas, sea turtles, crocodiles and wetlands.
Scientific officer, Dr. Indraneil Das and senior researcher Satish Bhaskar undertook a herpetological survey in the Nicobars in 1994 as part of a biogeographical assessment of these islands. Reptiles and amphibians were deposited in the Zoological Survey of India collection as types or locality specimens. Four of the species (two frogs, two lizards and a snake) have been described as new to science. The Royal Netherlands Embassy, New Delhi, sponsored the survey.
In 1994, researcher T.V. Padma undertook a study on the levels of pollution on the epifauna of mangroves in Wandoor, South Andaman, which included a soil analysis and faunal survey of the mangroves in South Andaman, sponsored by ANET and the Royal Netherlands Embassy, New Delhi.
In 1994, researcher Manish Chandi, sponsored by WWF-India and ANET, initiated a two year project on the introduction of suitable strategies for the conservation and protection of rainforests through community action in Wandoor Village, South Andaman.
During the period 1995 to 1997, researcher Arjun Sivasundar undertook surveys and studies on nesting patterns, placement and predation of nests of the leatherback sea turtle in the Andaman Islands, sponsored by ANET and the Royal Netherlands Embassy, New Delhi.
Between 1995 and 1997, researcher Sohan Shetty conducted studies on the terrestrial behavior and geographic variation in the yellow-lipped sea krait in the Andaman Islands, sponsored by ANET/the Royal Netherlands Embassy, New Delhi.
In 1996, researcher Rohan Arthur of the Wildlife Institute of India carried out a survey of coral reefs and reef fishes of the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, sponsored by ANET/the Royal Netherlands Embassy, New Delhi.
In 1996, Ranjan Biswas of Trailblazers, Bombay, was contracted by ANET to conduct an environmental education workshop for students and teachers of the Andaman Islands as part of ANET’s ongoing education programme, sponsored by the Royal Netherlands Embassy, New Delhi.
In early 1997, researchers Kamlesh Shankar and P.V. Kumaraswamy undertook two studies entitled “Andaman and Nicobar Islands – a tourism perspective” and “Development of tourism in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands”, respectively, sponsored by the Royal Netherlands Embassy, New Delhi.
Studies by ANET researchers revealed a worrying lack of understanding or appreciation of the islands’ natural ecosystems among the settlers, many of whom were raised in mainland cities. ANET therefore initiated a teachers training manual ‘Treasured Islands’ on island ecology, designed and produced by Sunita Rao, to help school children appreciate nature and take an active interest in conserving the islands’ diversity and wilderness areas (WWF-India and the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India). This manual is now part of the required syllabus in schools throughout the archipelago. An educational video on the natural history and conservation problems of the islands was also produced by ANET and distributed to local schools. The Team Education Officer makes regular environmental presentations to schools and organises nature walks.
ANET’s arboretum, started by Aparna Singh in 1991 propagates rare and endemic plants to provide seedlings for villagers, school children, the Forest Department and environmental NGO’s to reforest degraded land and public areas. The A&N Forest Department has invited ANET to submit afforestation projects for funding by the National Wastelands Development Board. The flora study includes preparation of three sets of herbarium sheets by our botanists who have collected over 1000 specimens to date.
Harry Andrews is involved in collection of live specimens of reptiles, helping design enclosures and formulating captive breeding proposals for the zoo at Port Blair, managed by the Forest Department
ANET’s work has already culminated in a large number of research publications and articles which focus on the biology of individual endangered species, the ecology of rainforest, marine habitats, effects of pollution, deforestation and hunting (see Appendix). Reprints have been sent to relevant researchers, institutions, departments and administrators.
“Treasured Islands”, a video produced by ANET in 1995 in Hindi and English, is currently being used by the islands’ schools, college, Forest Department, Department of Education and the Department of Tourism.
Since April 1997, a project entitled “Biodiversity Conservation and Protected Areas Management Planning Project in the Andaman Islands” was initiated by ANET in partnership with the Fauna and Flora International, United Kingdom, supported by the Darwin Initiative for the Survival of Species. The objectives identified include: -

Activities till 1999 have included sociological studies, an environmental education programme (where slide-talks, field visits and workshops for school children and teachers were organised). Biological (botanical and zoological) inventories and impact assessments for three protected areas, the Mount Harriet National Park area, Rani Jhansi Marine National Park and the Saddle peak National Park were completed. These studies resulted in the discovery of species new to science besides several new records for the Islands. Impact assessments have also been conducted for two Tribal Reserves, the Little Andaman Island and The Jarawa Reserve.
In 1999 Harry Andrews was elected to the Coral Reef monitoring Committee for the Islands.
In early 2000, ANET and Kalpavriksh jointly launched the Revised Version of the teachers training manual ‘Treasured Islands’ in English and Hindi together with a poster in the Islands.
During July 2000 a sea turtle survey of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands was started, as part of the UNDP/ Government of India National sea turtle project, for India. Three field stations, Middle Andaman Island, Rutland Island and one in Great Nicobar Island were setup for this project. Harry Andrews surveyed all other remote and outlying islands in the Andamans and the Nicobars.  Shreyas Krishnan took up monitoring and studies in Great Nicobar Island. To date over 300 giant leatherback sea turtles have been individually tagged. Preliminary results indicate that this large reptile nesting in the Nicobars is not only the most significant for Indian Ocean region but is globally significant too. This survey, study and monitoring, at three different sites in A & N islands, continues to date.
In October 2000 ANET was selected as the nodal agency to draw up a strategy and action plan for the Islands, for the Government of India-UNDP project, ‘National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan’  (NBSAP).
In November 2000 the A & N Administration elected ANET  to the Wildlife Advisory Board for the Islands.
Early February 2001, the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN), South Asia team, conducted a four day socio-economic monitoring and training workshop at ANET. This workshop was conducted for ANET researchers, people from various departments within the islands, as well as for college students.
Rauf Ali undertook a study of the feral elephants, between Feb 2001- Apr 2001, on Interview Island; this study was aimed at assessing the impact of these animals on vegetation.
In July 2001 ANET, together with the A & N Forest Department, the Indian Institute of Public Administration, and Flora and Fauna International, UK, conducted a workshop cum seminar, 'Biodiversity Conservation and Protected Areas Management Planning for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands'. Over 90 participants including policy makers, representatives from all departments of the islands, the Armed Forces, island and Mainland India scientists, university faculty members, students and various NGO's participated in this three day seminar. The Darwin Initiative, UK, funded this workshop and was a part of the project and field research that ANET has conducted since 1997. 
During 2001-2002, Aparna and Meethu completed a survey and assessment of the shark fin industry to assess the impact on the shark populations and species around the Andaman seas.
Senior scientific advisor Rauf Ali and Bandana Aual conducted a study, in 2001, on the rate of vegetation regeneration and impact of browsing by spotted deer in protected areas and in natural regeneration areas.
ANET's Team Aparna, Biswas, and Meethu conducted a socio- economic monitoring and study around the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park as part of the impact assessment study on the coral reefs of the marine national park, to formulate sustainable tourism and management involving local people living around the park. This study was taken up in August 2001 and completed by January 2002.
In January 2002 ANET was elected to the State Level Environment Council of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Bandana Aul completed a three month study on the bats of the Andamans, this is the first ever systematic survey on the species distribution and ecology conducted so far in the islands. Currently she has extended this study to the Nicobars. This study has resulted in new records and new species descriptions and will be taken up further as her PhD thesis.
In the Nicobars, Meera Oommen conducted a study on the ecology of the little known Nicobar tree shrew on Great Nicobar Island.
Shreyas Krishnan conducted a four month herpetofauna study around the middle Nicobar group of Islands.
Manish Chandi is studying human ecology, monitoring sea turtles and inventorying the herpetofauna on Little Nicobar Island.
S P. Vijaykumar has conducted herpetofaunal studies in the Nicobar group of islands.
In  2003 the Andaman and Nicobar Administration elected ANET to the ‘A & N State Wildlife Board’.
In 2004 the A & N Dept. of Environment & Forests appointed ANET to prepare the “State of Environment”. 
During 2004 ANET was appointed by Govt. of India as a member of the ‘Monitoring Committee for the Working Plan for the South Andaman Division’. 
ANET is in the process of preparing a school history and a geography book about the islands for the island schools.
In 2005 ANET was appointed, by Govt. of India, as a member of the ‘Andaman & Nicobar Coastal Zone Management Authority’.
Relief and rehabilitation efforts after 26TH Dec. 2004 earthquake and tsunami
ANET with its many connections was able to respond immediately .The initial response included providing immediate relief to persons evacuated to Port Blair and to those remaining on the islands. ANET made an assessment of the relief camps in Port Blair and an initial assessment of gaps was made and steps were taken to fill these. ANET concentrated on sending immediate relief to the Nicobar Islands working in closely with the Tribal Council and the Defence Command.
ANET is working closely with the Tribal Council to understand the needs of the Nicobarese and wherever possible meet them. As a part of its rehabilitation efforts ANET has been able to procure funds to purchase the much needed boats, metal trunks, fishing lines & hocks, tools, specific clothes that the Nicobarese wear in the central and southern Nicobar group. Besides ANET has been supporting students from the Nicobars studying at the Port Blair College. An information centre has been set up in the office of the tribal council at Kamorta Island and ANET has provided the centre with necessary office equipment (computer, photocopier machine and bicycles for volunteers). Initially used to create a database of survivors and deceased, a painstaking process as camps are scattered and remote this is now being used to quantify immediate, long-term rehabilitation requirements, housing, livelihood, children’s education and for ANET to monitor progress over the next three years.
The Director carried out detailed ecological impact assessments, post tsunami, for Andamans and Great Nicobar Island.
Seema Mundoli is conducted a survey in the Nicobars to assess the number and type of structures the Nicobarie people lived in pre tsunami, in relation to their, use, requirements, area, islands, seasons and in relation to their social frame work. This study assisted the authorities in deciding on the design, layout and materials required to reconstruct homes as per the decision and requirements of the Nicobarie people. This study is part of ANET’s long term rehabilitation monitoring programme. 

LOCAL LIAISON

Since its inception ANET has maintained its policy of collaborating with the A & N Forest Department as closely as possible. Regular meetings are encouraged to keep the Department abreast of ANET’s activities, to enable forestry officials to suggest further programmes, which could be incorporated into ANET’s Work Plan, and for the mutual exchange of biological observations and skills.
In July 1994, Harry Andrews held discussions with the Islands’ Chief Wildlife Warden to design well-informed management plans for the protection and expansion of wildlife sanctuaries, based chiefly on data collected by ANET researchers. Many of ANET’s recommendations were approved by the Department of Environment.
ANET makes a point of networking with other scientists and environmental agencies, including Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore; the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun; the Zoological Survey of India,Calcutta; the Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi; Kalpavriksh, Pune; World Wide Fund for Nature India; TRAFFIC-India; Development Alternatives, New Delhi; the Auroville Index Seminum, Centre for Scientific Research, Auroville, Tamil Nadu; Foundation for Ecological Research Advocacy and Learning, (FERAL) Pondicherry; Wildlife Trust of India, New Delhi; Ashoka Innovators for the Public, New Delhi; Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN)- South Asia, Sri Lanka; The Innovation Centre, University of Exeter, U. K; and other IUCN/SSC Specialist Groups.
Within the Andamans:
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands Forest Department; Society for Andaman & Nicobar Environment (SANE); Reef Watch; Zoological Survey of India; Botanical Survey of India; the Anthropological Survey of India; the Agricultural, Fisheries, and Tourism Departments; Central Agricultural Research Institute, and the Armed forces.

FUNDING

The research, conservation, and education work of ANET is entirely dependent on external funding. Various organisations have sponsored ANET or donated equipment, including (in no particular order) the Centre for Herpetology, Madras Crocodile Bank Trust; World Congress of Herpetology; Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India; Ministry of Human Resources & Development, GOI.; World Wide Fund for Nature; Development Alternatives; Australian High Commission, New Delhi; Indo-German Social Service Society, New Delhi; Swedish Society for Nature Conservation; Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University; Janvikas, Pune; Asian Wetlands Bureau, Malaysia; The Darwin Initiative, U. K.; The Royal Netherlands Embassy, New Delhi; UNDP/Government of India; Wildlife Trust of India, New Delhi; Dreikönigsaktion der Katholischen Jungschar, Austria; Survival International, U. K.; United Nations Education, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Center for Environmental Education, (CEE), Banglore; Ranee Shankaramma Memorial Trust, Banglore; Wanaparthy Educational & Charitable Trust, New Delhi; the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), U K and the UNEP/ Conservation for Migratory Species of Wild Animals, (CMS).
Individuals and agencies that supported ANET’s relief and rehabilitation work n the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Association for India’s Development- USA; Environmental Support Group- Bangalore and the Centre for Action Research on Environment, Sciences & Society-Chennai; Ms. Suzanne H. Fuller- Honolulu; Mrs. Sarah Chung-USA; Mr. Jonathan Campbell- USA; Mr. K. Mithaiwala- USA; Mr Vinni Jayaram- Mumbai; Mr S. Krishnan- Chennai; Wilco International- Chennai; Ms. Vinita Hoon- Chennai; TI Cycles- Chennai; University Womens Association- Chennai; Basic Stores- Chennai; Lions Club of Vadanamelli Village, Chennai;  GNAPE- Chennai; Mrs. Sarojini Subbiah- Chennai; Ms. Anuja Sharma- Chennai; Mr Arun Kumar Thomas- Chennai; Mrs. Suyamprabha Manikam- Umarapalayam; Orient Longman Staff- Chennai; Mr. V.  Seetharaman- Chennai; Dr. T. Savithry- Visakhapatnam; Mrs Rashmi Devadasan- Chennai; Mr Nimesh Sumati- Mumbai; Mr Sameer Ghodke- Pune; Mr. Rakesh Khanna- Chennai; Prof. P Soumini- Visakhapatnam; Mr. M. Ramkumar- Chennai; Mr. Prithvi Rajan- Chennai; Mr. R Suresh- Chennai; Mr. N T Rao- Visakhapatnam; Mrs Nanditha Siram- Visakhapatnam; Mr. R Sudhakaran- Chennai; Mrs. Asha Jain- Visakhapatnam; Mrs. Catherine Tarboureigh- France and Winrock International India- New Delhi;

THE NEXT FIVE YEARS

By virtue of its new research and education base station in Wandoor (South Andaman), its small fleet of boats and its well-maintained relationships with the A&N Forest Department, Ministry of Environment and Forests, and local people, ANET is uniquely positioned to make further tangible contributions to conservation in the archipelago.

Affiliated institutions

ANET makes a point of networking with other scientists and environmental agencies. Apart from the affiliations of the CrocBank, ANET network within the islands includes:

Department of Environment & Forests, Society for Andaman & Nicobar Environment (SANE), Reef Watch; Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Anthropological Survey of India (ASI), Agricultural, Fisheries, and Tourism Departments and the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI), besides all the armed forces in the islands.