The over-exploited forests of the Andaman and Nicobar islands have now got a breather, with the Supreme Court recently passing an order to close all saw mills in the islands and coming down heavily on encroachers. The Supreme Court order, passed in May 2002, states that the Andamans are an 'eco-fragile' area, and hence "it is essential that the natural forest is protected and re-generation allowed to take place."