Sri Vijaya Puram, Nov. 13: Zoological Survey of India, Andaman & Nicobar Regional Centre and EIACP Centre on Island Biodiversity conducting Three Day Training Workshop on Conservation and Sustainable Management of Coastal and Marine Biodiversity of Island Ecosystem for the Personnel of Other Services under the “Forestry Training and Capacity Building” initiative by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. The workshop inaugurated by Dr. S. Dinesh Kannan, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Department of Environment and Forests, A & N Islands as a chief guest on 13th November 2025.
Dr. S. Dinesh Kannan, IFS, delivered the inaugural address and thanked the ZSI for taking the effort to arrange such a valuable training for officers from different departments around the islands. He said that even while each department has its unique mandate, all organisations ultimately aim to achieve the same objective, which is the advancement and welfare of humanity. Departments including agriculture, animal husbandry, PWD, and health work in their respective fields to enhance people’s quality of life, while defence professionals maintain national security. He emphasised that the island ecosystem is distinct and cannot be compared to systems on the mainland. Because of variations in rainfall patterns, soil stability, seismicity, and ecological fragility, practices used in the Northeast or mainland India might not be appropriate in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. He highlighted the significance of making well-informed decisions by using instances like the requirement for earthquake-resistant structures and the islands’ high risk of landslides in the event that trees are cut down. He emphasised that understanding what we have is the first step towards sustainable management. Islanders need to be aware of the diversity of flora and fauna in order to effectively conserve them. The three-day training workshop would provide participants a broader understanding of the islands’ biodiversity, including corals, rare plants and animals, and ecosystem services. He urged officers to interact with speakers, ask questions, stay up to speed on their expertise, and actively participate in all meetings and field trips. He emphasised that this platform also gives officers from many departments a chance to learn about each other’s responsibilities, which facilitates improved coordination and well-informed policy decisions. He reaffirmed that conservation and development must coexist, but that because island ecosystems are small, delicate, and remote, any harm done to them could be irreparable. Dr. Dinesh Kannan urged all participants to take full advantage of the workshop with enthusiasm and interest.
Earlier, Dr. C. Sivaperuman, Scientist-F & Course Director, Zoological Survey of India, Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, A & N Islands welcomed the gathering and extended his sincere gratitude to the chief guest for accepting the invitation and being part of the event. He outlined the key objectives of the workshop, focusing on biodiversity conservation, sustainable resource use, ecosystem services and practical field-based learning. He explained the structure of the training programme, comprising two days of technical sessions delivered by subject experts followed by a field visit designed to provide hands-on exposure to biodiversity assessment and management practices. Total of 28 participants attend the workshop from Indian Coast Guard, INS Jarawa, Indian Army, Central Industrial Security Force, Air Force, Police Training School, Anti-Corruption Unit, Directorate of Fisheries, Health Services, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, RD, PRI & Urban Local Bodies, Education and Andaman and Lakshadweep Harbour Works.
Followed by the inaugural session, the technical session commenced with a series of expert lectures. Dr. S. Dinesh Kannan, IFS, delivered an insightful talk on Sustainable Management of Biodiversity of Island Ecosystem. Dr. C. Sivaperuman, An overview of Island Biodiversity & Marine Biodiversity of A & N Islands, Dr. Jai Sunder, Director, ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute delivered a lecture on Coastal Agro-biodiversity, Importance and Challenges.