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1. Criteria for designation of BR

2. Structure and functions of BR
3. Biosphere reserves in India
4. International Status of Biosphere Reserves (BR)
5. Biosphere conservation
6. Related resources

Biosphere Reserve (BR) is an international designation by UNESCO for representative parts of natural and cultural landscapes extending over large area of
terrestrial or coastal/marine ecosystems or a combination thereof. BRs are designated to deal with one of the most important questions of reconciling the
conservation of biodiversity, the quest for economic and social development and maintenance of associated cultural values. BRs are thus special environments for
both people and the nature and are living examples of how human beings and nature can co-exist while respecting each others’ needs.

Criteria for designation of BR

A site that must contain an effectively protected and minimally disturbed core area of value of nature conservation.
The core area should be typical of a bio-geographical unit and large enough to sustain viable populations representing all trophic levels in the ecosystem.
The management authority to ensure the involvement/cooperation of local communities to bring variety of knowledge and experiences to link biodiversity
conservation and socio-economic development while managing and containing the conflicts.
Areas potential for preservation of traditional tribal or rural modes of living for harmonious use of environment.

Structure and functions of BR

Biosphere reserves are demarcated into following 3 inter-related zones:

Core Zone : Core zone must contain suitable habitat for numerous plant and animal species, including higher order predators and may contain centres of
endemism. Core areas often conserve the wild relatives of economic species and also represent important genetic reservoirs having exceptional scientific
interest. A core zone being National Park or Sanctuary/protected/regulated mostly under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Whilst realizing that
perturbation is an ingredient of ecosystem functioning, the core zone is to be kept free from l human pressures external to the system.
Buffer Zone : The buffer zone, adjoins or surrounds core zone, uses and activities are managed in this area in the ways that help in protection of core
zone in its natural condition. These uses and activities include restoration, demonstration sites for enhancing value addition to the resources, limited
recreation, tourism, fishing, grazing, etc; which are permitted to reduce its effect on core zone. Research and educational activities are to be encouraged.
Human activities, if natural within BR, are likely to continue if these do not adversely affect the ecological diversity.
Transition Zone : The transition area is the outermost part of a biosphere reserve. This is usually not delimited one and is a zone of cooperation where
conservation knowledge and management skills are applied and uses are managed in harmony with the purpose of the biosphere reserve. This includes
settlements, crop lands, managed forests and area for intensive recreation and other economic uses characteristics of the region.

Biosphere reserves in India

There are 18 Biosphere Reserves in the country.

S. Name Date of Area (in km2) Location (State)

No. Notification

1 Nilgiri 01.09.1986 5520 Part of Wayanad, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Madumalai, Nilambur,
(Core 1240 & Buffer 4280) Silent Valley and Siruvani hills (Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka).
 2 Nanda Devi 18.01.1988 5860.69 Part of Chamoli, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar districts (Uttarakhand).
(Core 712.12, Buffer 5,148.570)
& T. 546.34)

3 Nokrek 01.09.1988 820 Part of Garo hills (Meghalaya).

(Core 47.48 & Buffer 227.92,
Transition Zone 544.60)

4 Great Nicobar 06.01.1989 885 (Core 705 & Buffer 180) Southern most islands of Andaman And Nicobar (A&N Islands).

5 Gulf of Mannar 18.02.1989 10,500 km2 Indian part of Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka (Tamil
Total Gulf area(area of Nadu).
Islands 5.55 km2)

6 Manas 14.03.1989 2837 Part of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamprup and Darang
(Core 391 & Buffer 2,446) districts (Assam)

7 Sunderbans 29.03.1989 9630 Part of delta of Ganges and Brahamaputra river system (West
(Core 1700 & Buffer 7900) Bengal).

8 Simlipal 21.06.1994 4374 Part of Mayurbhanj district (Odisha).

(Core 845, Buffer 2129 &
Transition 1400

9 Dibru-Saikhowa 28.07.1997 765 Part of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia Districts (Assam)

(Core 340 & Buffer 425)

10 Dehang-Dibang 02.09.1998 5111.50 Part of Siang and Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh.
(Core 4094.80 &Buffer 1016.70)

11 Pachmarhi 03.03.1999 4926 Parts of Betul, Hoshangabad and Chindwara districts of Madhya
Pradesh.

12 Khangchendzonga 07.02.2000 2619.92 Parts of Khangchendzonga hills and Sikkim.

(Core 1819.34 & Buffer 835.92)

13 Agasthyamalai 12.11.2001 3500.36 Part of Thirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts in Tamil Nadu and
Thiruvanthapuram, Kollam and Pathanmthitta districts in Kerala.

14 Achanakamar - 30.3.2005 3835.51 Covers parts of Anupur and Dindori districts of M.P. and parts of
Amarkantak (Core 551.55 & Buffer 3283.86) Bilaspur districts of Chhattishgarh State.

15 Kachchh 29.01.2008 12,454 km2 Part of Kachchh, Rajkot, Surendra Nagar and Patan Civil Districts of
Gujarat State

16 Cold Desert 28.08.2009 7770 Pin Valley National Park and surroundings; Chandratal and
Sarchu&Kibber Wildlife Sancturary in Himachal Pradesh

17 Seshachalam Hills 20.09.2010 4755.997 Seshachalam Hill Ranges covering parts of Chittoor and Kadapa
districts of Andhra Pradesh

18 Panna 25.08.2011 2998.98 Part of Panna and Chhattarpur districts in Madhya Pradesh

International Status of Biosphere Reserves (BR)

The UNESCO has introduced the designation ‘Biosphere Reserve’ for natural areas to minimize conflict between development and conservation. BRs are
nominated by national government which meet a minimal set of criteria and adhere to minimal set of conditions for inclusion in the world network of Biosphere
reserves under the Man and Biosphere Reserve Programme of UNESCO. Globally, there are 686 biosphere reserves in 122 countries, including 20 transboundary
sites.
India has 12 internationally recognised BRs. They are as follows.

1. Nilgiri
2. Gulf of Mannar
3. Sunderban
4. Nanda Devi
5. Nokrek
6. Pachmarhi
7. Similipal
8. Achanakmar-Amarkantak
9. Great Nicobar
10. Agasthyamala
11. Khangchendzonga
12. Panna

Biosphere conservation
The Biosphere Reserve Programme is guided by UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme as India is a signatory to the landscape approach supported by
MAB programme. A scheme called Biosphere Reserve is being implemented by Government of India since 1986, in which financial assistance is given in 90:10
ratio to the North Eastern Region States and three Himalayan states and in the ratio of 60:40 to other states for maintenance, improvement and development of
certain items. The State Government prepares the Management Action Plan which is approved and monitored by Central MAB Committee.

Related resources
UNESCO recognised Biosphere Reserves in India

Source : Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Last Modified : 11/7/2022

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