Sri Vijaya Puram, October 10: The Andaman and Nicobar Administration’s Forest and Environment Department has launched an eco-tourism portal and a forest patrolling application, alongside releasing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for marine turtle conservation, as part of efforts to strengthen environmental protection and improve access to tourism information across the Islands.
The initiatives were unveiled at a valedictory function marking the conclusion of a week-long programme on environmental awareness, wildlife conservation and sustainable eco-tourism. The event also featured the release of a beach-cleaning report documenting a drive conducted across approximately 120 beaches between September 19 and October 6 under the project Beyond Beach Cleaning (BBC).
The new eco-tourism portal, available at https://ecotourism.andamannicobar.gov.in, provides information to help visitors plan trips to eco-tourism destinations across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It includes opening and closing timings, entry fees, favourable visiting seasons and other relevant details about tourist destinations.
The portal is intended to make destination-related information more accessible and help visitors plan their trips with information about visiting conditions and requirements. The launch formed part of the department’s broader programme focusing on environmental conservation and sustainable tourism.
The department also launched the Van Prahari App to monitor patrolling activities and other field-level operations. The application is intended to support forest surveillance and improve the efficiency of protection and enforcement activities.
Another key announcement was the release of an SOP for marine turtle conservation. The department also released a report on the beach-cleaning drive carried out across the Islands from September 19 to October 6. Approximately 120 beaches were cleaned during the campaign, which focused on coastal cleanliness, protection of the marine environment and public awareness about keeping beaches free from pollution.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Secretary Gyanesh Bharti called for the department’s publications released during the programme to be made available in school and college libraries. He said this would help promote environmental awareness and encourage a conservation-oriented outlook among students and young people.
Bharti also acknowledged the department’s work in organizing the week-long programme and its initiatives related to environmental conservation, wildlife protection and sustainable eco-tourism. He highlighted the significance of the publications and digital initiatives introduced at the event.
S. Dinesh Kannan, Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), addressed the gathering and spoke about environmental protection, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
Sanjay Kumar Sinha, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Andaman and Nicobar Islands), and Ravi Horo, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, attended as guests of honour. Senior officers from the Forest and Environment Department and other departments of the Administration were also present.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Jojo P. Alapatt, Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), who acknowledged the chief guest, guests of honour, officials, participants, organisers and others involved in the event.
The initiatives announced at the function covered three areas: access to eco-tourism information, monitoring of forest field operations and measures related to wildlife and coastal conservation. The beach-cleaning report also recorded the scale of the recent campaign, which covered approximately 120 beaches across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
