Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Biodiversity Hotspot and Sensitive Ecosystem
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands form one of India's most ecologically sensitive regions. The islands are part of the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot and house a high degree of endemism — species found nowhere else on Earth.
- The Andaman Islands are oceanic islands formed from the submerged mountain chain of the Arakan Yoma range, providing unique biogeographic isolation that drives speciation.
- The islands host tropical rainforests, mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and cave ecosystems — a range of habitat diversity that supports extraordinary biodiversity.
- They fall within the Biodiversity Hotspot concept defined by Norman Myers (1988, updated 2000): regions with at least 1,500 endemic vascular plant species and that have lost at least 70% of their original habitat.
- India has two designated biodiversity hotspots: the Himalaya and the Western Ghats + Sri Lanka hotspot; the Indo-Burma hotspot covers parts of northeastern India including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
● Tracked since March 13, 2026 · last seen June 20, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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