A hope spot is an area of ocean that merits special protection because of its wildlife and significant underwater habitats. The two islands are the first spots in India and part of 31 new hope spots across the world added to the existing 19 spots. "What we've done here is identify a number of critical areas that represent a real hope to restore the health of our imperilled ocean," IUCN quoted Sylvia as saying.

"The pristine seas, the World Heritage areas, marine sanctuaries, marine protected areas, reserves — whatever they're called. We started with 19, now the number is 50 but for me there really is just one Hope Spot — it's the ocean," said Sylvia.

Andaman & Nicobar have 556 islets with unique flora and fauna. There are around 270 species and sub-species of birds in these two islands of which around 106 have been declared endemic. The Andaman Wood Pigeon, Andaman Padauk and Dugong have been declared the state bird, the state tree and the state animal respectively. There are about 96 wildlife sanctuaries, nine national parks and one biosphere reserve in the islands.

"Andaman & Nicobar islands have been declared a hope spot as it has some of world's unique species of birds and plants. In the case of Lakshadweep, the coral reefs are quite sensitive to the ocean environment and need protection. These are the likely reasons for the IUCN to declare the spots as hope spots," chief scientist of the National Institute of Oceanography, Baban Ingole, told TOI.

In Lakshadweep, the institute has commenced an inventory of the coral reefs. "We plan to study the type of coral reef present in and around Lakshadweep, its health and the possible change in its status due to climate change," said Ingole.

The new hope spots were announced during the 3rd International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC3) in Marseille, France. Over 1,200 marine specialists and ministers from around the world attended the meet.