| Year
|
Research/Study topic
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Research conducted & project undertaken by
|
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| Community biodiversity programme. |
|
Nursery of forest tree species was initiated, which included distribution of seedlings to the local people and planting fallow land in the Wandoor area. Setting up of an arboretum of rare and endemic flora, supervised by Aparna Gopal.
|
1991 |
Launch of environmental education programme
|
First of a series of environmental education programmes in schools in South Andaman conducted by Aparna Gopal.
|
1991 |
Studies on the Andaman day gecko |
Researcher Jayashree Ratnam carried out a study on the status, natural history, distribution and behavioral ecology.
|
1992 |
Utilization patterns of forest produce
|
Researcher Nina Sengupta conducted a study on the utilization patterns of forest produce by settlers in Wandoor Village
|
1992 |
Study on tribal displacement and status of the negrito tribes.
|
Researcher Miriam Paul conducted a study on tribal displacement and status of the tribes in the Andaman Islands .
|
1993 |
ANET's -Special Committee |
ANET was asked to devise environmental research projects for the unique Great Nicobar Island Biosphere Reserve.
|
1993 |
Trained A & N Forest Department personnel |
Senior Researcher, Satish Bhaskar, trained A & N Forest Department personnel to monitor nesting sea turtles and protection of nesting beaches.
|
1993 |
Sea turtle action plan |
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 .
|
1993 |
Crocodile surveys and wetlands assessments |
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.
|
1993 |
Development of action plans |
At the request of the Department, ANET developed an action plan for conservation of sea turtles, crocodiles and wetlands.
|
1993 |
Herpetological survey in the Nicobars. |
Scientific officer, Dr. Indraneil Das and senior researcher Satish Bhaskar undertook a herpetological survey in the Nicobars. As outcome of this study, four of the species (two frogs, two lizards and a snake) have been described as new to science.
|
1994 |
Studies on the levels of pollution on the epifauna of mangroves
|
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.
|
1995
|
Studies on the levels of pollution on the epifauna of mangroves
Introduction of suitable strategies for the conservation and protection of rainforests
|
Researcher Manish Chandi, initiated a two year study on the introduction of suitable strategies for the conservation and protection of rainforests through community action in Wandoor Village , South Andaman.
|
1995- 1997 |
Studies leatherback sea turtle. |
Researcher Arjun Sivasundar undertook surveys and studies on nesting patterns, placement and predation of nests of the leatherback sea turtle in the Andaman Islands .
|
1995- 1997 |
Studies on yellow-lipped sea krait |
Researcher Sohan Shetty conducted studies on the terrestrial behavior and geographic variation in the yellow-lipped sea krait in the Andaman Islands
|
1996 |
Survey of coral reefs and reef fishes
|
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 .
|
1996 |
Environmental education orkshop |
Ranjan Biswas of Trailblazers, Bombay , was contracted by ANET to conduct an environmental education workshop for students and teachers of the Andaman Islands .
|
1997 |
Tourism perspective |
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 ”.
|
1997 |
Production teachers training manual
|
ANET research revealed a worrying lack of understanding or appreciation of the islands' natural ecosystems among the settlers. ANET 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.
|
1997 |
Production of a video in English & Hindi |
An educational video on the natural history and conservation problems of the islands was produced and distributed. It is being used by local schools, the college, Forest Department, Department of Education and the Department of Tourism.
|
1997 |
Afforestation |
ANET's arboretum, started in 1991 propagated rare and endemic plants and provide seedlings for villagers, school children, the Forest Department and environmental NGO's to reforest degraded land and public areas.
|
1997 |
Flora surveys & studies |
The flora included preparation of three sets of herbarium sheets by our botanists, Walter Gastamans & Bala Chandran, who have collected over 1000 specimens to date.
|
1997-2001 |
Biodiversity Conservation and Protected Areas Management Planning Project in the Andaman Islands
|
The initiated by ANET included
• Research and field surveys both within and around three existing protected areas
• Training of ANET researchers and Forest Department staff in species surveys and monitoring techniques, data collection, evaluation and formulation of management plans.
• Formulation and implementation of management plans for three protected areas.
|
1998 |
Zoo related efforts |
Harry Andrews was 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.
|
1998 |
Publications |
ANET's work culminated in a large number of research publications focused on the biology of endangered species, the ecology of rainforest, marine habitats, deforestation and hunting. Reprints were sent to relevant researchers, institutions, departments and administrators.
|
1999 |
Research & activities |
Activities till 1999 have included sociological studies, an environmental education programme. Biological (botanical and zoological) inventories and impact assessments for three protected areas. 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.
|
1999 |
Coral reefs |
Harry Andrews was elected to the Coral Reef monitoring Committee for the Islands .
|
2000 |
‘Treasured Islands ' |
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 .
|
2000 |
Marine turtle studies & Surveys |
Sea turtle survey in the A & N 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.
|
2000 |
ANET as nodal agency |
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).
|
2000 |
ANET membership |
The A & N Administration elected ANET to the Wildlife Advisory Board for the Islands .
|
2001 |
Browsing by spotted deer |
Researcher Bandana Aul conducted a study on the rate of vegetation regeneration and impacts of browsing by spotted deer in protected areas and in natural regeneration areas.
|
2001 |
Coral Reef Monitoring workshop |
Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN), South Asia team and ANET 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.
|
2001 |
Protected Areas workshop & seminar |
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.
|
2001-2002 |
Feral elephants study |
Dr. Rauf Ali undertook a study of the feral elephants on Interview Island ; to assess the impacts on vegetation.
|
2001-2 |
Shark fin industry |
Aparna Singh and Meethu Ayepaw conducted a survey and assessment of the shark fin industry to assess the impact on the shark populations and species around the Andaman seas.
|
2002 |
Marine park - socio-economic monitoring
|
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.
|
2002 |
Council membership |
ANET was elected to the State Level Environment Council of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands .
|
2002 |
Bat studies |
Bandana Aul completed a three month study on the bats of the Andamans, the first ever systematic survey on the species distribution and ecology conducted. This study has resulted in new records and new species descriptions.
|
2003 |
Bat studies |
Extended to the Nicobars this study also resulted in new records and new species descriptions and has been taken up further as her PhD thesis.
|
2003 |
Tree shrew studies |
Researcher Meera Oommen studied the ecology & distribution of the little known Nicobar tree shrew on Great Nicobar Island .
|
2003 |
Nicobars Herpetofauna |
Researcher Shreyas Krishnan conducted a four month herpetofauna study around the middle Nicobar group of Islands .
|
2003 |
Human ecology |
Researcher Manish Chandi started a long term study on human ecology, monitoring sea turtles and inventorying the herpetofauna on Little Nicobar Island.
|
2003
|
Nicobar herpetofauna |
Researcher S P. Vijaykumar conducted herpetofaunal studies in all the Nicobar group of islands.
|
2003 |
ANET membership
|
The Andaman and Nicobar Administration elected ANET to the ‘A & N State Wildlife Board'.
|
2004 |
ANET as nodal agency |
The A & N Dept. of Environment & Forests appointed ANET to prepare the “State of Environment ”.
|
2004 |
ANET's appointment |
Was appointed by Govt. of India as a member of the ‘Monitoring Committee for the Working Plan for the South Andaman Division'
|
2004 |
Publications |
ANET is in the process of preparing a school history and a geography book about the islands for the
schools.
|
2005 |
ANET's appointment |
Appointed, by Govt. of India, as a member of the ‘Andaman & Nicobar Coastal Management Authority'.
|
|
2005 |
Post tsunami impact assessment |
Harry Andrews and team conducted a detailed environmental impact assessment in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands post the Dec 26 th 2004 tsunami.
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