Extensive education and awareness programs were carried amongst the indigenous people of the Andaman & Nicobar Group of Islands. The objectives were to educate them on the need to protect coral reef ecosystems in the post tsunami scenario from further threats and allow regeneration of reefs and their resources. As the livelihoods of the islanders are critically dependent on the sustainable use of these resources, these interactive awareness campaigns facilitated a convergence of scientific methods and traditional wisdom for future conservation efforts in the region.