A senior government official announced that it is about to start the National Coral Reef Research Institute (NCRRI) in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The institute with an estimated budget of 120 crore will be the main body in India to lead the study, monitoring and scientific advisory of coral reefs in India. Officials asserted that it will be the main nodal agency in charge of protection of coral reefs and research in the country.
This is the first such facility that will be established by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change at Chidiyatapu in South Andaman. The officer-in-charge of the Andaman and Nicobar regional centre of the Zoological Survey of India Sivaperuman indicated that the institute will concentrate on advanced research, conservation and management practices in a bid to protect the fragile reef ecosystems. He emphasized that coral reefs are very crucial in the coastal security, as they are used as a natural barrier against storms and wave surges. Their protective ability assists in loss prevention of lives and property in the vulnerable areas along the coast.
Sivaperuman also mentioned new programs of public engagement in addressing a workshop on Coastal and Marine Biodiversity of Island Ecosystems. An online system that uses QR code will be launched shortly at the ZSI Museum in Sri Vijay Puram where visitors will be able to view the photographs and the information about the exhibited species via their smartphones.
The previous director of ZSI, Kailash Chandra, informed that Andaman and Nicobar Islands are one of the four recognized biodiversity hotspots in India, which have an extensive variety of native species and other seasonal migratory species. He also raised some concern on the danger of climate change to marine environment, particularly coral reefs, as a result of rising sea levels and rising ocean temperatures.
Chandra also noted that the government is appealing to the biodiversity enthusiasts by giving them a chance to name new species that are discovered and being supportive of the need to merge farming with ecology of the Island.
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