Report on Land Use in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

This document assesses ecological impacts of deforestation across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and concludes the terrain is predominantly protection/production forest, unsuitable for large-scale agricultural settlement. It documents accelerated soil erosion, dry-season water scarcity from reduced infiltration, mangrove vulnerabilities, and road-driven gully formation, and flags plantation risks, especially teak pest outbreaks. Core actions include a land-capability survey using high-quality aerial photography, halting further immigration and new allocations, strict forest demarcation, prioritizing regeneration over monocultures, and small, carefully engineered surface-water schemes. The report proposes extensive terrestrial and marine reserves, automatic protection for small offshore islands, controls on species introductions, active management of introduced deer, and secure habitats aligned with the needs of indigenous tribes.