A Voice for the Great Nicobar Island, India

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are important centres of endemic biodiversity in India. They have been the home to primitive human tribes for thousands of years. The southernmost Great Nicobar Island is known for its biogeographic affinity to Indonesia. A large part of this island is a biosphere reserve recognized by UNESCO. A plan to urbanize a part of this island after clearing lush tropical rainforests has been a matter of concern. While development is not altogether a bad idea, it has to be done with greater sensitivity towards the fragile ecosystem of the small island and its original inhabitants. The vulnerability of this island and an alternate model of development are discussed here.