Port Blair, Mar 08: CPR. Environmental Education Centre, Port Blair organized a Capacity Building Workshop and field visit in collaboration with Andaman College, Port Blair on Island Biodiversity Conservation for students of the Andaman college, funded by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), Government of India, Chennai from 06.03.2019 to 07.03.2019.
The workshop was inaugurated by Mr. Amit Anand IFS, Dy. Conservator of Forest, Department of Environment and Forest. In his inaugural address, he pointed out, Biological diversity plays an important role in our everyday lives and impacts food and water resources as well as the future of medical discoveries. Making sure a wide diversity of life continues to thrive on Earth is essential for a bright future for the planet and us to conserve the fragile ecosystem of A&N islands and the student’s key role in environment protection. Mr.A.Gopal, Project Officer, CPREEC, Port Blair briefed about the workshop. Earlier, Dr. Jayakumar, Principal, ANCOL, welcomed the gatherings and addressed the plants important role in biodiversity. During the inaugural session, Dr. Meera Setty, Asst. Professor, ANCOL shared views on environment protection.
On 06.03.2019 the topics were handled in the technical session by resource person of the Islands, such as Terrestrial and marine Faunal diversity of Andaman and Nicobar islands, Dr. C. Sivaperuman, officer In-charge, Zoological Survey of India, Port Blair. Mangrove biodiversity and its importance with special reference to ANI by Mr. Sukumar Das, Instructor, Forest Training Institute, Wimberlygunj. Biodiversity and its importance, Dr. Santhosh Kumar Jha, Asst. Professor, Department of Botany, JNRM, Port Blair. Floral diversity of Andaman and Nicobar islands, Mr. Joju P. Alappat, Director, Forest Training Institute, Wimberlygunj. Discussed on Peoples biodiversity register, Mr. A. Gopal, Project Officer, CPREEC, Port Blair.
Continuation of the workshop, field trip was organized on 07.03.2019 for the students. The College students visited Carbyn Cove mangrove Patch, Wetland Sippighat, Botanical Garden, Botanical Survey of India, Nayashehar and Marine Interpretation Centre, Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, Wandoor. Mr. Sukumar Das, Instructor, Forest Training Institute, Wimberlygunj, Dr. P.T. Rajan and Dr. Vivek, Botanical Assistant, Botanical Survey of India enlightened the students to conserve the biodiversity in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.