BOTANICAL SURVEY OF INDIA, ANDAMAN & NICOBAR REGIONAL CENTRE

Name of Head of the Office: Dr. Lal Ji Singh, Scientist E

Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre was established on 30^th March, 1972 at Port Blair with prime objective of intensive botanical explorations and authentic documentation of flora of the Islands thereby enriching the herbarium, museum and experimental garden of the Centre. Among all the units of BSI, A & N Regional Centre holds the credit of covering one of the most remote and insular floristic hotspots of the country. The following are the main objectives of this centre:

• Survey, exploration and identification of the plant resources, thereby providing authentic information on the occurrence, distribution, ecological features and economic potentialities of plant wealth in the A & N Islands.

• Floristic inventorization, documentation and publication of flora of A & N Islands.

• Systematic studies on Mangrove vegetation of the Islands & to evaluate the status of fragile ecosystem.

• Introduction, multiplication and conservation of rare and endangered plants of the Islands, in the Botanic Garden, with special emphasis on endemic orchids, economic and medicinal plants of the primitive tribes.

• Ethno botanical studies of different aboriginal tribes.

Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre comprise the major functional units to undertake various research activities: Herbarium, Museum, Library, Data base Unit, etc. at Haddo, Port Blair and an Experimental Garden-cum-Arboretum at Nayashahar about 16 km from Port Blair. It focuses on intensive botanical explorations and documentation of flora of the Islands and also of rare, threatened and endemic plant species and their ex-situ and in-situ conservation.

OBJECTIVES:

1. Survey, exploration and identification of the plant resources, thereby providing authentic information on the occurrence, distribution, ecological features and economic potentialities of plant wealth in the A & N Islands.

2. Floristic inventorization, documentation and publication of flora of A & N Islands.

3. Systematic studies on mangrove vegetation of the Islands and to evaluate the status of fragile ecosystem.

4. Introduction, multiplication and conservation of rare and endangered plants of the Islands, in the Botanic Garden, with special emphasis on endemic orchids, economic and medicinal plants used by primitive tribes.

5. Ethnobotanical studies of different aboriginal tribes.

6. Environmental Impact Assessment of developmental activities on the islands ecosystem.

These objectives are being achieved through frequent survey and collection tours in different islands in different seasons. These studies have resulted in publication of more than 300 research papers and books like flora of A & N Islands, Vol. 1, flora of Great Nicobar Islands, mangroves of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Pteridophytes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Second and Third volumes of the flora of A & N Islands are is in final stages of editing. Floristic Survey of mangroves has resulted in documentation of several species of mangroves spread all over the islands, thereby proving that the Islands posses the best mangrove vegetation in our country. Scientists and staff of the Regional Centre are taking effective measures to collect and conserve the germplasm of rare, endangered and threatened plant species. Environmental Impact Assessment studies on Kalpong Hydro-Electric Project have contributed in the discovery of new taxa and recollection of rare and endemic plant species. In addition, the investorization of grasslands of Nancowry group of islands has resulted many new record of grasses with economic potential.

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE REGIONAL CENTRE

• 3 Genera and 133 plant species discovered from the Islands as new to science.
• Over 400 intensive and extensive exploration tours, covering about 90% of the Angiosperm, Gymnosperm, Pteridophyte, Bryophyte and Lichen plant wealth of the Islands were documented.
• An internationally recognized herbarium with acronym PBL has been established with over 40,000 plant specimens.
• Publication of the flora of Andaman & Nicobars Islands (Vol. I) and Flora of Great Nicobar Islands.
• Publication of over 600 scientific research papers in Peer reviewed national and foreign journals.
• Prepared a comprehensive list of endemic, rare and threatened plants of the Islands.
• Environmental Impact Assessment study on Kalpong Hydro-Electric Project in North Andaman under the directions of Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India, New Delhi.
• Survey and Reporting of Terrestrial & Marine flora of Rani Jhansi Marine National Park, under the directions of Wild Life Advisory Board.
• Prepared a comprehensive list of flora of the Barren Island (volcanic island).
• Enumeration of area-wise distribution and species analysis of Mangrove vegetation of A & N Islands.
• Plant Resource Survey of Jarawa Tribe in Andaman Archipelago.
• Documentation of Traditional uses of plants of the Islands.
• Completed conservation study on Collection and Introduction of seeds and Seedlings of 40 Tree Species, Zingibers and Rattans in the DEGCA, Raise Nursery and Work on Seed Germination and Phenological Survey of Tree Species.
• Ex-situ conservation of RET species at Dhanikhari Experimental Garden cum Arboretum and identification of unidentified Herbarium specimens at PBL.

INVENTION

• An invention of reusable eco-friendly drinking straw