Small island management: a case study of the Smith Island, North Andaman, India

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands of the Indian waters are endowed with rich natural resources which support the inhabitants of the islands for their economic, environmental and cultural well-being. It is important that the islands are conserved and protected for its unique environment and also managed sustainably for the livelihood security of the island communities. A major challenge in the protection of these small islands is lack of a holistic management plan by the local administration that integrates the special environmental concerns of islands. To address these lacunae, an attempt was made to prepare a small island management plan of Smith Island of North Andaman as a case study. The island management plan was prepared through analyzing the current status of land use and land cover features, ecologically sensitive areas, possible development and hazard perception of the island. The areas for development and no development, areas for preservation and conservation and suggestions for ecotourism development are indicated in the plan. The plan also provides information on the wildlife species and its impact on resources. The study also discusses mitigation measures in the climate change scenario.