Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 10 November 2025
As part of its calendar of tourism promotion events, the Department of Tourism, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, in collaboration with the Department of Environment & Forests and the Gram Panchayat, Shoal Bay, organized a Mangrove Walk at Shoal Bay on November 8, 2025.
The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from local residents, tour operators, environmentalists, naturalists, and tourists, who explored the lush mangrove ecosystem and its diverse flora and fauna. A dedicated bus service, arranged with the support of the Transport Department, facilitated the participants’ excursion into the thriving mangrove forests of Shoal Bay.
The Pradhan of Gram Panchayat Shoal Bay, Mr. A. R. Kumar, expressed happiness over the successful conduct of the event and appreciated the efforts of the Tourism Department for promoting the region’s natural assets as part of sustainable tourism development.
Officials from the Forest Department — Mr. L. Moses, Forest Ranger, and Mr. D. Sekhar, Forester from the Mannarghat Range Office — briefed the participants about the ecological significance of mangroves, their role in coastal protection, and the need for their conservation amid increasing environmental threats.
The Mangrove Walk not only offered participants an immersive educational experience but also sought to inspire local youth to consider eco-guiding as a potential self-employment opportunity. By combining environmental education with livelihood prospects, the initiative aims to strengthen the link between conservation and community-based tourism in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
