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Patrol boat for the Green Life Society (GLS) on Andaman Island
- Restarting conservation efforts on dugong, turtles and coral reefs after the Tsunami -

The Andaman Islands, being extremely close to the epicenter of the massive December 2004 earthquake, were severely affected by the tsunami. We now know that the disaster killed over 1,500 islanders, with many still missing, and displaced 55,000 others. The tsunami wiped out scores of villages, altered the geography of entire islands, and created mountains of debris which threaten to choke and destroy coral reefs.

The islands contain one of the world’s largest mangrove ecosystems, with extensive networks of mangrove creeks inhabited by saltwater crocodiles and the giant monitor lizards. The islands are also fringed by spectacular coral reefs, which support thousands of species of fish, coelenterates, mollusks, crustaceans, and sea snakes. Mangroves are extremely important: they protect coastlines from wave damage, protect coral reefs by filtering mud and sediments from the land, and act as a nursery for juvenile fish species.

Human life and property were not the only victims of the tsunami. Untold acres of coral reefs were damaged not only by the initial impact but also by the debris, sewage, and sediments that were washed back out to sea.

After the initial assistance to contain the human catastrophe, it is now time to rebuild.

The Green Life Society has been active before the tsunami to research and protect dugong and turtle populations ad to monitor reef health around the islands. Their only research vessel was destroyed during the tsunami and they are in need of assistance to restart their work:

“The Andaman Islands are a group of islands and the only way to get around and especially to research sites is via boat. Our own boat, which has been destroyed, is lying somewhere at the bottom of the Junglighat Jetty and it is too dangerous at the moment to dive down there, as the jetty has also collapsed and is also barely hanging on.”

Hasmukh Hoslo Jiwa, GLS Chairman

With the new boat which should started operation in December 2006 the GreenLife Society will recommence the monitoring of several coral reef sites around the islands to assess the impact of tourism and other influences, which is essential to ensure that the islands’ coral reefs are kept healthy for generations to come.

Everytime you book through DIVERSION DIVE TRAVEL you contribute to this exciting work so that your kids can still enjoy a healthy marine environment.

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