Sri Vijaya Puram, Nov. 21: Zoological Survey of India, Andaman & Nicobar Regional Centre is conducting a Three-Day Training workshop on Coastal and Marine Biodiversity of Island Ecosystem under the Training of Other Stakeholders sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India to be held during 21st – 23rd November 2024.
This training workshop enrolled 22 teachers, students and members of Zilla Parishad from South Andaman. This three-day training workshop includes eight different talks on the theme by the eminent experts, and for field practical the participants will be taken to the intertidal areas at Burmanalla, South Andaman to showcase the marine biodiversity; and Chidiyatappu Biological Park. The three-day training workshop inaugurated by Shri. Sanjay Kumar Sinha, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), A & N Islands as a Chief Guest; Dr. E.B. Chakurkar, Director, ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, A & N Islands; Dr. Lal Ji Singh, Regional Director, Botanical Survey of India, A & N Islands as special guests. Besides the participants, the inaugural programme was attended by the officials from the Department of Environment & Forests; Pondicherry University; Botanical Survey of India.
In his inaugural address, Shri. Sanjay Kumar Sinha, IFS, highlighted about the importance of the training programme, and welcomed the participants of the workshop. He emphasized on the diversity of marine ecosystem and Indian coastline of 7,500 km of which 5,400 km is in the mainland and remaining in the Islands. The vast coastline are diverse ecosystems such as estuaries, lagoons, mangroves, and coral reefs, each contributing uniquely to biodiversity and ecological balance. The mangroves are among the most significant ecosystems in coastal regions and India. He also added, India's coral reefs, primarily located in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Gulf of Kutchch and the Gulf of Mannar, which are biodiversity hotspots that support numerous marine species which play a critical role in nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration.
Dr. Lal Ji Singh, in his address congratulated Officer-in-Charge, ZSI for organizing such workshops as it is the best platform for capacity building among the stakeholders in terms of gaining knowledge in forestry and sustainable development of the biodiversity island ecosystems. He added our islands are richly endowed with a diverse array of flora and fauna, making them a part of global biodiversity hotspots, particularly the Indo-Burma and Sundaland. This unique biodiversity thrives across a wide range of habitats from tropical rainforests to coastal and marine ecosystems.
Dr. E.B. Chakurkar, in his address, complemented ZSI for organizing this kind of capacity buildings in regular interval and said that it is important to understand that biodiversity conservation is not only the responsibility of officials or institutions. Every individual, including students, plays a vital role in this effort. Students, especially, can contribute significantly as active members of society. Species in these ecosystems, whether plants, animals, or microorganisms have evolved to thrive under specific environmental conditions. Some plants, for instance, survive in saline soil, and just tasting their leaves can reveal the salt content. Similarly, animals in one region often develop adaptations that differ significantly from those in another. This uniqueness makes it imperative for us to study and document what is available in each ecosystem. It is time to create raising awareness and fostering a collective sense of responsibility among all stakeholders, including local communities, policymakers, and students.
Earlier, Dr. Sivaperuman, Course Co-ordinator and Officer-in-Charge, greeted the dignities, and guest invites. In his welcome address, he mentioned about the objectives of the training workshop, and briefed about the next three day programme both class room and field visit. He also emphasized the role of Zoological survey of India, Andaman & Nicobar Regional Centre in organizing various level of training courses.
The function concluded with the vote of thanks. After the inaugural session, the technical session commenced with Dr. C. Sivaperuman delivering a talk on the overview of Marine Biodiversity of A & N Islands. Dr. S. Dinesh Kannan, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Department of Environment & Forests, A & N Islands delivered talk on Human-animal interactions with special reference to management of Crocodiles in Island ecosystem. Dr. Lal Ji Singh, Regional Director, BSI, delivered talk on the Plant diversity of A & N Islands: An overview and Prof. P.M Mohan, Professor, Department of Ocean Studies and Marine Biology, Pondicherry University delivered talk on the Mangrove Ecosystem of A & N Islands.