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Biosphere Reserves of India (18 Biosphere Reserves

in India (12 Recognized by UNESCO’s MAB))
PMF IAS / May 12, 2023 / May 16, 2023 / Protected Area Network

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Biosphere Reserves Of India (18 Biosphere Reserves In India (12 Recognized By UNESCO’s MAB))

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Table of contents

1. Biosphere Reserve
2. Biosphere Reserves of India
2.1. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
2.2. Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve
2.3. Nokrek Biosphere Reserve
2.4. Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve
2.5. Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve
2.6. Manas Biosphere Reserve
2.7. Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve
2.8. Similipal Biosphere Reserve
2.9. Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve
2.10. Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve
2.11. Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve
2.12. Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve
2.13. Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve
2.14. Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve
2.15. Great Rann of Kutch Biosphere Reserve
2.16. Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve
2.17. Seshachalam Hills Biosphere Reserve
2.18. Panna Biosphere Reserve
3. Salient Flora/Fauna of the Biosphere Reserves of India
4. Natural World Heritage Sites in India

Biosphere Reserve
Biosphere reserves are sites established by countries and recognized under UNESCO’s Man
and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme to promote sustainable development based on local
community efforts and sound science.
The World Network of Biosphere Reserves currently consists of 738 sites in 134 countries,
including 22 transboundary sites.

Biosphere Reserves of India

Presently, there are 18 notified biosphere reserves in India (12 recognized by UNESCO’s MAB).

Area
S.No. Year Name State
(km2)

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve TN (2537), Kerala (1455), Karnataka 5520

1 1986
(1527)

2 1988 Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve Uttarakhand 5860

4 1988 Nokrek Biosphere Reserve Meghalaya 820

Gulf of Mannar Biosphere

3 1989 Tamil Nadu 10500
Reserve

5 1989 Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve West Bengal 9630

6 1989 Manas Biosphere Reserve Assam 2837

Great Nicobar Biosphere

7 1989 Andaman and Nicobar Islands 885
Reserve

8 1994 Simlipal Biosphere Reserve Odisha 4374

Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere
9 1997 Assam 765
Reserve

Dihang-Dibang Biosphere
10 1998 Arunachal Pradesh 5112
Reserve

11 1999 Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve Madhya Pradesh 4982

Khangchendzonga Biosphere
12 2000 Sikkim 2620
Reserve

Agasthyamalai Biosphere
13 2001 Kerala, Tamil Nadu 3500
Reserve

14 2005 Achanakmar-Amarkantak BR Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh 3835

15 2008 Great Rann of Kutch BR Gujarat 12454

16 2009 Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve Himachal Pradesh 7770

Seshachalam Hills Biosphere

17 2010 Andhra Pradesh 4755
Reserve

18 2011 Panna Biosphere Reserve Madhya Pradesh 543

Biosphere Reserves Established by India | Biosphere Reservs Established by India and

Recognized by UNESCO’s MAB

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

Nilgiris (blue mountain) got their name from the purplish blue flowers of Neelakurinji (blossoms
once in 12 years).
The Nilgiri Sub-Cluster (UNESCO World Heritage Site) includes the Mudumalai, Mukurthi,
Nagarhole, Bandipur and Silent Valley national parks, as well as the Aralam, Wayanad and
Sathyamangalam wildlife sanctuaries.
Vegetation: tropical evergreen forests (western side of Western Ghats), montane sholas and
grasslands (at high altitudes), semi-evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests, dry deciduous
forests, and thorn forests.
Major Fauna: Lion Tailed Macaque (EN), Nilgiri Tahr (EN), Malabar Giant Squirrel (LC), Nilgiri
Langur (VU), etc.

Ranganthitoo
BirdSanctuary
WLS HosurFD
Mysore
IknadRF cauvery
Kerti Kunthur-Kallurlake auveryWLS
RE Rajiv
Brahmagiri Gandhi NarasimabuddhiLake.
WIS NP
NuguWIS
ol l ega lPD
K
Ban
Wayanad dip ErodeFD
MYSORE- urN
WIS P/T
NILGIRI
R
Kalpettaforest
TalaimalaiRF
coffeecomplex
NaduvattamRFinNiligirisSouthFD
r t hEDoy
it sNo anad Satyamangalam
ig Kod
NCaimbillRi FD

NilamburFB Conoor Kotagiri-LongwoodShola

KallarRE
r Governer'sSholaRF
al iva
Ch MukurthiNP KundahRF-Avalanche,BisonSwamp
ThaiSholaRF
SilentValleyNP

Attapadi Coimbatore

RF
Siruvani
©Foothills

Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve

Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve = Nanda Devi National Park + Valley of Flowers NP.
Major Fauna: Snow Leopard (VU), Musk Deer (EN), Bharal Or Blue Sheep (LC), etc.

Nokrek Biosphere Reserve

Nokrek (1,412 m) is the highest peak of the Garo hills.

Vegetation: Evergreen, semi-evergreen & deciduous.
Key Fauna: Red Panda (EN), Hoolock Gibbons (EN), Red Giant Flying Squirrel (LC), etc.

Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve

It lies between the west coast of Sri Lanka and the south-eastern tip of India, in the Coromandel
Coast region.
The chain of low islands and reefs known as Ramsethu (Adam’s Bridge), which includes Mannar
Island, separates the Gulf of Mannar from Palk Bay, which lies to the north between Sri Lanka and
India.
The biosphere reserve comprises islands with estuaries, seagrasses, coral reefs, salt marshes and
mangroves.
Major Fauna: Dugong (VU), Olive Ridley turtles (VU), etc.

Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve

It is located in the vast Delta of the Ganges, south of Kolkata and bordering Bangladesh in the east.
It provides habitat for the threatened Royal Bengal Tiger (EN).
Sundarbans BR = Sundarbans National Park + Sajnekhali Wildlife Sanctuary + Lothian Wildlife
Sanctuary + Haliday WLS.

Manas Biosphere Reserve

Manas BR = Manas National Park. It is contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan.
Manas is famous for its population of the Wild Water Buffalo (EN).
Rare and endemic wildlife: Assam Roofed Turtle (EN), Hispid Hare (EN), Golden Langur (EN) &
Pygmy Hog (EN).
The grassland biomes: Pygmy Hog, Rhinoceros (re-introduced in 2007), elephants, Bengal
florican (CR) etc.

Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve

Great Nicobar BR = Campbell Bay National Park + Galathea NP.

Vegetation: tropical wet evergreen forests.
Major Fauna: Dugong (VU), Saltwater Crocodile (LC), etc.

Similipal Biosphere Reserve

It includes Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve (Similipal TR + Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary + Kuldiha

WLS).
Tribes: Erenga, Kharias, Mankirdias, Ho, Gonda & Munda.
Major Fauna: Royal Bengal Tigers, Wild Elephants (EN), Gaurs (VU – Indian Bison), Chausingha
(VU).

Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve

Pachmarhi BR (Satpura National Park + Bori Wildlife Sanctuary + Pachmarhi WLS) lies in the
centre of the Satpura Range. The highest peak is the Dhoopgarh (1,352 m). Gonds are the major
tribes.
Fauna: Tiger, Gaur, Indian Giant Flying Squirrels (LC), etc.

Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve

The biosphere reserve is a transboundary bio-diversity hotspot conservation area. It includes the
third highest mountain peak in the world, Kanchenjunga (8,586 m). It is one of the highest
ecosystems in the world, reaching elevations of 1,220 m to 8,586 m above sea level.
The Khangchendzonga NP, which comprises the core area of the KBR, was inscribed as India’s
first “Mixed World Heritage Site”.
Major Fauna: Red Panda (EN), Snow Leopard (VU), Musk Deer (EN), Great Tibetan Sheep
(Argali – NT), etc.

Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve

Dibru-Saikhowa BR = Dibru-Saikhowa National Park.

Major Fauna: Bengal Tiger, Clouded Leopard (VU), Gangetic Dolphin (EN), etc.

Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve

The Mouling NP and the Dibang WLS are located fully or partly within this biosphere reserve. The
terrain is rugged, with an altitudinal range of 750 to 3000 m at the highest point, the Mouling Peak.
Major Fauna: Takin (VU), Red Panda (EN).

Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve

Agasthyamala BR = Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary + Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary + Neyyar

Wildlife Sanctuary + Kalakad Mundanthurai TR. The reserve is home to Kani tribes from both
Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Major Fauna: Nilgiri Tahr (EN)

!. Which one of the following are Agasthyamala biosphere reserve?

a. Neyyar, Peppara and Shendurney wildlife sanctuaries and Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
b. Mudumalai Sathayamangalam and Wayanad wildlife sanctuaries and Silent Valley National Park
c. Kaundinya Gundla Bhrameshwaram and Papikonda wildlife sanctuaries and Mukurthi National
Park
d. Kawal and Shree Venkateshwara wildlife sanctuaries; and Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam tiger reserve

Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve

It extends across the states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Maikal hills together with
eastern Vindhyas and Satpuras lie within the reserve.
Major Fauna: Four Horned Antelope (Chausingha (VU)), Indian Wild Dog (VU), etc.
Vegetation: moist deciduous and dry deciduous forests.

Great Rann of Kutch Biosphere Reserve

The Great Rann of Kutch is a salt marsh in the Thar Desert.

Great Rann of Kutch BR = Kachchh Desert Sanctuary (in Great Rann of Kutch) + Wild Ass
Sanctuary (in Little Rann of Kutch), Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary + Kutch Bustard Sanctuary +
Banni Grasslands Reserve.
Major Fauna: Great Indian Bustard (CR), Indian Wild Ass (NT), etc.

Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve

It includes Pin Valley National Park, Chandratal, Sarchu and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuaries.
Major Fauna: Snow Leopard (VU), Himalayan Ibex (also referred to as Siberian Ibex – LC).

Seshachalam Hills Biosphere Reserve

The Seshachalam Hills are part of the Eastern Ghats (south of Panna River) in southern Andhra
Pradesh.
Tirupati, a major Hindu pilgrimage town and Srivenkateshwara National Park are located in these
ranges.
Major Flora: rare and endemic plant species like Red Sanders (NT) are of great economic
importance.
Major Reptilian Fauna: Golden Gecko (LC – Endemic To Tirumala Hills).

Panna Biosphere Reserve

Panna Biosphere Reserve = Panna TR.

Fauna: Tiger (EN), Chital (LC), Chinkara (LC), Sambar (VU).

Salient Flora/Fauna of the Biosphere Reserves of

India

Name Key fauna

Lion Tailed Macaque (EN), Nilgiri Tahr (EN), Malabar Giant Squirrel (LC),
Nilgiri BR
Nilgiri Langur (VU)

Nanda Devi BR Snow Leopard (VU), Musk Deer (EN), Bharal Or Blue Sheep (LC)

Gulf of Mannar Dugong (VU), Olive Ridley turtles (VU)

Nokrek Red Panda (EN), Hoolock Gibbons (EN), Red Giant Flying Squirrel (LC)

Sundarbans Royal Bengal Tiger (EN)

Assam Roofed Turtle (EN), Hispid Hare (EN), Golden Langur (EN), Pygmy
Manas
Hog (EN), Wild Water Buffalo (EN), Bengal florican (CR)

Royal Bengal Tigers, Wild Elephants (EN), Gaurs (VU – Indian Bison),
Simlipal
Chausingha (VU)

Dihang-Dibang Takin (VU), Red Panda (EN)

Pachmarhi BR Tiger, Gaur, Indian Giant Flying Squirrels (LC)

Achanakmar-
Four Horned Antelope (Chausingha (VU)), Indian Wild Dog (VU)
Amarkantak BR

Great Rann of
Great Indian Bustard (CR), Indian Wild Ass (NT)
Kutch

Cold Desert Snow Leopard (VU), Himalayan Ibex (also referred to as Siberian Ibex – LC)

Red Panda (EN), Snow Leopard (VU), Musk Deer (EN), Great Tibetan Sheep
Khangchendzonga
(Argali – NT)

Agasthyamalai BR Nilgiri Tahr (EN)

Great Nicobar BR Dugong (VU), Saltwater Crocodile (LC)

Dibru-Saikhowa Bengal Tiger, Clouded Leopard (VU), Gangetic Dolphin (EN)

Seshachalam Hills Red Sanders (NT), Golden Gecko (LC – Endemic To Tirumala Hills)

Panna Tiger (EN), Chital (LC), Chinkara (LC), Sambar (VU)

Natural World Heritage Sites in India

Notified Area
Name of WH Site Location
in (km2)

Great Himalayan National Park

1 Himachal Pradesh 2014 905
Conservation Area

Western Ghats Ghats of Maharashtra to 7953

2 2012
Kerala

Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National

3 Uttarakhand 1988 717
Parks

4 Sundarbans National Park West Bengal 1987 1330

5 Kaziranga National Park Assam 1985 430

6 Keoladeo National Park Rajasthan 1985 28.7

7 Manas Wildlife Sanctuary Assam 1985 391

Khangchendzonga National Park is the first “Mixed Heritage (Cultural + Natural Heritage
Site)” site of India.

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