Sri Vijaya Puram, Nov. 5: Three-day training workshop on “Coastal and Marine Biodiversity of Island Ecosystems” for Personnel of Other Services (Class II & III) commences on 5th November 2026 sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, under the “Environment Knowledge and Capacity Building” initiative, organised by Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre (ANRC).
Prof. (Dr.) P.V. Nagendra Sarma, Principal, Andaman Law College, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Dr. Jai Sunder, Director, ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Dr. S. Dinesh Kannan, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Department of Environment and Forests, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, attended as Special Guests.
A total of 35 participants representing various government departments, institutions and organisations are attending the workshop. The participating organisations include Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti, Andaman and Nicobar Police, Andaman Lakshadweep Harbour Works, Anti-Corruption Unit, CISF Unit, Directorate of Agriculture, Directorate of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Directorate of Health Services, Directorate of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies, Directorate of Shipping Services, Fishery Survey of India, Government Senior Secondary School, Bhatubasti, Rabindra Bangla, Headquarters Andaman and Nicobar Command, Indian Coast Guard, Naval Ship Repair Yard and the Office of the Deputy Commissioner.
In his inaugural address, Prof. (Dr.) P. V. Nagendra Sarma, Chief Guest, highlighted the constitutional and legal foundations of environmental protection in India. He observed that increasing pressure on natural resources had brought environmental concerns to the forefront of national and international discourse, identifying the Stockholm Conference of 1972 as a landmark in shaping global environmental awareness and legislation.
Dr. Jai Sunder, Special Guest, congratulated ZSI/ANRC for organising the training programme and appreciated the participation of representatives from diverse departments and institutions. He highlighted the close interrelationship between climate change, biodiversity conservation and ecosystem protection, emphasising the need for coordinated efforts among different departments to address these interconnected challenges.
Dr. S. Dinesh Kannan, IFS, emphasised that government departments and research institutions, despite having different mandates and approaches, share the common objective of promoting human well-being. He highlighted the importance of bringing together representatives from agriculture, fisheries, animal husbandry and other sectors to exchange knowledge, understand one another’s activities and identify opportunities for coordinated action. To illustrate the importance of recognising and valuing natural resources, he narrated an illustrative story of a man who unknowingly discarded precious diamonds into a river in the darkness and realised their true value only at daybreak. Drawing a parallel with biodiversity, he observed that a lack of awareness can result in the loss of valuable natural resources before their significance is fully understood.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr. C. Sivaperuman, Scientist-F and Course Director, ZSI/ ANRC, outlined the Centre’s research, training and outreach initiatives aimed at strengthening biodiversity conservation and environmental awareness in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He highlighted the Centre’s contributions under the Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP), particularly the training programmes for Junior Para-Taxonomists and Nature Conservators-cum-Ecotourism Guides, which equip local unemployed youth and school dropouts with practical skills relevant to biodiversity documentation, conservation and environmental management. He also highlighted the specialised workshops, training programmes for frontline personnel and educational initiatives undertaken by the Centre to familiarise various stakeholders with the unique biodiversity of the islands.
Following the inaugural session, the technical programme commenced with expert lectures covering important aspects of island biodiversity, coastal agrobiodiversity and ecosystem management.
Dr. Jai Sunder delivered a lecture on “Coastal Agrobiodiversity: Importance and Challenges,” highlighting the significance of agricultural biodiversity and the challenges associated with its conservation and sustainable utilisation. Dr. S. Dinesh Kannan, IFS, delivered a lecture on “Sustainable Management of Biodiversity of Island Ecosystems,” focusing on the importance of integrated approaches to biodiversity conservation and sustainable ecosystem management. Dr. C. Sivaperuman delivered two lectures entitled “Island Biodiversity: A Journey through Unique Ecosystems” and “Marine Biodiversity of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands: An Overview,” providing insights into the distinctive biodiversity, ecological characteristics and conservation significance of the island ecosystems. The three-day training workshop aims to strengthen the knowledge and practical understanding of participating officers and promote interdepartmental cooperation for the conservation and sustainable management of the coastal and marine biodiversity of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.