Andaman Islands

Located in the Bay of Bengal, the vast Andaman Islands of India comprise around 325 volcanic islands and islets, and are home to more than 250 species of bird and an upward of 200 species of coral – making these reefs the most bio-diverse in India. High-diversity fringing reefs, extensive mangroves and seagrass meadows characterize the marine environment. The extensive seagrass meadows in the north are home to the highly endangered dugong, and may represent the most feasible place for its conservation in the subcontinent. Unfortunately, the area has experienced threats from unsustainable tourism, illegal logging, aquaculture activities and the clearing of mangroves for housing. However, several local groups are hard at work developing effective conservation strategies based on each island's socio-ecological system.

Protected Species

Corals Dugong Fringing Reefs Mangroves Seabirds Seagrass