Conservation And Education

Barefoot is dedicated to the conservation of the beautiful, fragile environs of the Andaman Islands. In addition to the varied work conducted by the Barefoot Group through its Environmental Education and Resource Center at Havelock, Barefoot Adventures also takes a few small but meaningful additional steps to further the sustainability aims of Barefoot Resorts.

Barefoot Adventures works in conjunction with the local schools, to help create awareness amongst the children regarding the fragility of the ocean environment and the connection between actions at a human level and the results on a larger ecological scale. Barefoot Adventures provides material support and sponsorship to all programs run by or in collaboration with the Barefoot Seacology Environmental Education Centre (Beach No.1), giving its boats, kayaks and other marine equipment free of cost for use in marine awareness programs being run for the local community.

As the Andamans increases in popularity, the number of tourists visiting the island is on the rise. We urge you to travel sensitively, and assist in our conservation efforts by abiding by some simple guidelines.

Environmental Consciousness on the islands: Water is a limited resource on the islands. Conserve water as much as possible. Solid waste and its disposal is an increasing problem on Havelock. Wherever possible, avoid the use of plastics and disposables. Reuse plastic bags and bottles, and dispose of them appropriately. When camping, trekking or visiting uninhabited areas of the islands please bring your trash back with you for proper disposal. Do not indulge in consumption that leads to harmful and unsustainable activities like shark-finning, shell and coral collection, etc. Insist that your tour and resort operators follow sensitive practices, and do not support those that don’t.

Environmental Consciousness on the water: Please do not dispose of non-biodegradable trash in the ocean. Plastics cause severe damage and death to all forms of marine life, with repercussions beyond what is obvious to us. On boating excursions please bring your trash back with you for proper disposal. While exploring the underwater world please refrain from touching, teasing or catching marine life. This is harmful to them and potentially dangerous to you. Do not touch or break coral. Insist that your tour and resort operators follow sensitive practices and do not support those that don't.

Conservation Projects

  • In January 2006, The Barefoot Group and Seacology jointly created a community initiative for the purpose of enabling protection under existing environmental laws of a 2,175-acre marine area for a minimum period of 10 years at Havelock Island, Andaman Islands, India.

    In consideration of the importance of the unique beauty and nature of the Havelock Island area, Seacology has paid Barefoot 33% of the constructing an Environmental Education Center and for purchasing plastic waste collection containers for the Havelock Community area, the remainder of the expenses being met by Barefoot. The Barefoot Group has deployed personnel to monitor compliance with and enable protection under existing environmental laws extant over a 2,175-acre marine area off Radhanagar beach at Havelock Island, Andaman Islands, India, for a period of at least 10 years.

  • Sea Eagle Rescue

  • Personnel from the Barefoot Group work to ensure that there is no sand-mining from the beaches, no disturbance to turtle-nesting nor poaching of protected species of turtles (Green, Leatherback, Hawksbill, Olive Ridley), no extraction of corals from the reefs, no poaching of dugongs or dolphins or of other protected species of marine life within the marine area above specified. Personnel also work to ensure that all species in all forms of marine life that are protected under various Schedules of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 are actually protected as per the law within the marine area above specified.

  • Leatherback Nesting

  • The Barefoot Group has also established and runs an Environmental Education Center on Havelock Island. The Environmental Education Center provides education to the Havelock Islanders on the ecology and importance of the marine environment and will seek their cooperation in upholding all environmental laws applicable to the area.

    Seacology is the world's premier nonprofit, nongovernmental organization (NGO) with the sole and unique purpose of preserving the environments and cultures of islands throughout the globe. For more information, please visit www.seacology.org

  • Andaman & Nicobar Environmental Team (ANET), South Andaman Island

    ANET, a division of the Madras Crocodile Bank/Center for Herpetology, is studying and helping to protect the unique biodiversity of the ecologically rich and fragile Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where a quarter of the flora and fauna is endemic. This archipelago is also home to four surviving aboriginal tribes, three of which still employ bows and arrows to safeguard their territories from the outside world.

    ANET has conducted a variety of original biological research programs since 1977, including surveys of sea turtles and crocodiles, protected area management planning, land use implications and the impact of introduced mammal species. It is also developing conservation strategies to help ensure the survival of endangered species and habitats. ANET's forest nursery distributes seedlings of indigenous species of trees for reforestation. Its education program teaches the islanders about their fragile island ecosystem, and the dangers of increased pressure on its resources. The team trains local teachers, school children, settlers, people from the armed forces and naturalists so that they can join the conservation movement.

    For more information on ANET please contact Madras Crocodile Bank Trust at mcbtindia@vsnl.net