 Biosphere reserve of India

● Biosphere reserve provides a better environment for both humans and

nature in which both of them (humans and nature) live taking care of each
other's needs.
● Biosphere Reserve represents a natural and cultural landscape providing
stability to the conservation of biodiversity.
● Wildlife and natural resources are protected, maintained, managed and
restored in these areas.
● The United Nations agency UNESCO established biosphere reserves
in 1971 with the aim of reducing conficts between development and
conservation in natural areas.
● According to UNESCO, biosphere reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal
ecosystems that promote the conservation of biodiversity along with their
sustainable use.
● Any area is declared a biosphere reserve under UNESCO's Man and
Biosphere Reserve (MAB) programme.
● MAB is an intergovernmental scientifc program aimed at establishing a
scientifc basis for improving the relationship between people and their
environment.
● Keeping in mind the importance of Biosphere Reserves, it has also been
announced to celebrate International Biosphere Reserve Day on 3rd
November every year in the year 2022.

● Biosphere Reserve:
● Biosphere reserves are normally divided into three zones:
1. Core zone
2. Bufer zone
3. Transition zone
● Core Zone: This is the most protected area of the biosphere reserve.
Endemic plants and wildlife live in it. This is a very sensitive area and no
human activities are allowed here.
● Bufer Zone: Bufer zone is situated between the core zone and the transition
zone. This area is used for scientifc research.
● Transition Zone: This is the outermost part of any biosphere reserve. This
area includes human settlements, crops, land, managed forests, recreational
areas and other use areas.
 ● There are 18 biospheres in India
Name Year MAB program State Area (sq
(year) km)

Nilgiri 1986 2000 Tamil Nadu, 5,520

kerala and
Karnataka

Nanda devi 1988 2004 Uttrakhand 6,485

Nokrek 1988 2009 Meghalaya 820

Gulf of Mannar 1989 2001 Tamil Nadu 10,500

Sundarban 1989 2001 West Bengal 9,630

Manas 1989 Assam 2835

Great Nicobar 1989 2013 Andaman 885
Nicobar

Similipal 1994 2009 Odisha 4370

Dibru-Saikhowa 1997 Assam 820

Dehang-Deban 1999 Arunachal 5,110
g Pradesh

Pachmarhi 1999 2009 Madhya pradesh 4,925

Khangchendzo
n 2000 2018 Sikkim
ga
Agasthyamala 2001 2016 Tamil 3500
Nadu-Kerala
Achanakmar-A 2005 2012 Madhya pradesh 3,835
markantak
Kachchh 2008 Gujrat 2,619
Cold Desert 2009 Himachal 7,770
 pradesh

Seshachalam 2010 Andhra Pradesh 4755

Panna 2011 2020 Madhya pradesh 2,998

Important fact
● The total number of biosphere reserves in India is 18.
● There are a total of 12 biosphere reserves of India which have been recognized
internationally under the Man and Biosphere (MAB) program.
● India's frst biosphere reserve - Nilgiris (1986)
● India's frst Biosphere Reserve included in UNESCO's Man and Biosphere Program -
Nilgiris (2000)
● India's latest biosphere reserve area included in UNESCO's Man and Biosphere Program
- Panna Biosphere Reserve (2020)
● India's northernmost biosphere reserve - cold desert (Himachal Pradesh)
● India's southernmost biosphere reserve - Great Nicobar
● Largest biosphere reserve in terms of area – Gulf of Mannar (10,500 sq km)
● Smallest Biosphere Reserve in terms of area- Dibru Sakova (820)

1. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

● The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is the frst biosphere reserve in India.
● Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve was included in UNESCO World network of Biosphere
Reserves in the year 2000.
● The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is situated in parts of Tamilnadu, Kerala and
Karnataka.
● It is a Part of Nagarhole, Bandipur and Mudumalai,
Mukurthi, Silent Valley national park and Wayanad, Aralam and karimpuzha (Kerala)
wildlife sanctuary .
● Imp Fauna- Lion-tailed macaque and Nilgiri Tahr.

2. Gulf of Mannar
● The gulf of mannar is one of the biologically richest coastal regions on all of the
mainland india.
● Under this biosphere reserve, the gulf if mannar between india and sri lanka is
included.
● It is the frst Marine Biosphere Reserve in South and SouthEast Asia.
● the frst Marine Biosphere Reserve of India in 1989 by the Government of
India.
● This is the Largest biosphere reserve in terms of area.
● In India, the Gulf of Mannar region in Tamil Nadu is one of the four
major coral reef areas and the others are Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat,
Lakhsadweep and Andaman and Nicobar islands.

● Imp Fauna- Dugong or Sea Cow.

3. Sunderban Biosphere Reserve

● It is a Part of delta of Ganges and Brahmaputra river system.
● Sundarbans National Park, established in 1984.
● It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.
● Sunderbans was designated as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2001.
● The Sunderbans Delta is the only mangrove forest in the world inhabited
by tigers, It contains the world’s largest mangrove forests.
● The Indian Sunderban is bounded on the west by river Muriganga and on
the east by rivers Haribhanga and Raimangal.
● Imp Fauna- Royal Bengal Tiger.

4. Nanda devi Biosphere Reserve

● It is India’s most pristine high-altitude landscape and a UNESCO world
heritage site.
● The core areas are the Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National
Parks, which are one World Heritage site.
● It is located in Chamoli, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar districts
(Uttarakhand).

5. Nokrek Biosphere Reserve

● The Nokrek Biosphere Reserve is located in the state of Meghalaya
(Part of West Garo Hills).
● The entire area is mountainous and Nokrek is the highest peak of the
Garo hills.
 ● Nokrek Biosphere Reserve to its list of Biosphere Reserves in May
2009.
● Nokrek has a remnant population of the red panda.

6. Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve

● Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve, the name Pachmarhi is derived from the
Hindi words “Panch” (fve) and “Marhi” (caves) – the famous Pandav
Caves
● It Is a part of Betul, Hoshangabad and Chhindwara districts (Madhya
Pradesh).
● The Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve has witnessed high population
growth, with Gond tribes contributing for 50% to 90% of the tribal
population.
● Imp Fauna- Giant Squirrel, Flying Squirrel.

7. Simlipal
● Similipal derives its name from ‘Simul’ (silk cotton) tree.
● It is situated in the northern part of Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district.
● It was formally designated a tiger reserve in 1956 and brought under
Project Tiger in the year 1973.
● It was declared a biosphere reserve by the Government of India in
June, 1994.
● It is part of the Similipal-Kuldiha-Hadgarh Elephant Reserve popularly
known as Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve.
● Imp Fauna- Gaur and Wild elephant

8. Achanakmar - Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve

● The Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve is located in
Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
● This Biosphere Reserve comprises Parts of Anuppur and Dindori
districts of Madhya Pradesh and part of Bilaspur district of
Chhattisgarh.
 ● It is named after Achanakmar forest village in Chhattisgarh, and
Amarkantak, a holy place in Madhya Pradesh famously known as
"Teerthra".

9.Great Nicobar/गेट ननकोबार -

● Great Nicobar is the southernmost island of the Nicobar Islands.
● The Mongoloid Shompen Tribe, about 200 in number, live in the
forests of the biosphere reserve.
● Afra Bay and Campbell Bay are located here.
● Imp Fauna- Saltwater Crocodile, Crab-eating Macaque.

10. Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve

● Located in the Western Ghats in the south of the country.
● Established in 1997, Agasthyamalai Biological Park is a wildlife
sanctuary in Kerala.
● The Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve comprises three wildlife
sanctuaries at Shendurni, Peppara, Neyyar and Kalakad Mundanthurai,
a tiger reserve.

11. The Khangchendzonga

● Biosphere Reserve has become the 11th Biosphere Reserve from India
that has been included in the UNESCO designated World Network of
Biosphere Reserves (WNBR).
● Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve which is located in Sikkim is one
of the highest ecosystems in the world (1, 220 metres above sea-
level).
● World’s third highest peak, Mt. Khangchendzonga.
● Numerous lakes and glaciers, including the 26 km long Zemu Glacier
are a part of the Biosphere reserve.
● Imp Fauna- Snow Leopard, Red Panda

12. Panna Biosphere Reserve

● UNESCO has included Panna Tiger Reserve in its ‘World Network of
Biosphere Reserves’ in 2020.
● It is the third Biosphere Reserve after Pachmarhi and Amarkantak
Biosphere Reserves of Madhya pradesh.
● It is Spread over the Panna and Chhatarpur districts of Madhya
Pradesh, located in the Vindhya Range.
● The Ken River fows through this Biosphere Reserve.
● Imp Fauna- Tiger, Chital, Chinkara, Sloth bear

13. Manas Biosphere Reserve

● Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is a biodiversity hotspot located in Assam in
north-eastern India, spread over 2837 sq km.
● Manas gained the status of a biosphere reserve in 1989.
● Manas is also a Sanctuary and is home to a large population of Royal
Bengal Tigers.
● The sanctuary is also famous for its tiger reserve and elephant reserve.
● This wildlife sanctuary was marked as a World Heritage Site in 1985.
● Dhansiri River is in the east of this sanctuary and Sankosh River is in the
west.
14. Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve
● Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is a national park located in Dibrugarh and
Tinsukia districts, Assam, India.
● It was designated a Biosphere Reserve in July 1997 with an area of 765
km2.
● It is the largest swamp forest in north-eastern India.
● The park is bounded by the Brahmaputra and Lohit Rivers in the north
and Dibru River in the south.
● It mainly consists of moist mixed semi-evergreen forests, moist mixed
deciduous forests, canebrakes and grasslands.
● It is the largest salix swamp forest in north-eastern India, with a
tropical monsoon climate with a hot and wet summer and cool and
usually dry winter.

15. Dihang-Debang Biosphere Reserve

● This Biosphere Reserve constitutes the district of West Siang, Upper
Siang and Dibang valley of Arunachal Pradesh.
● It is bordered by the Dihang River to the south and the Dibang River to
the north.
● The Biosphere Reserve forms a part of one of the world’s “Biodiversity
Hotspots”.
● The Mouling National Park and the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary are located
fully or partly within this biosphere reserve.

16. Kachchh Biosphere Reserve

● The Rann of Kutch Biosphere Reserve is located in the state of Gujarat,
India.
● It is one of the largest seasonal salt marshes in the world and
encompasses an area of about 12,454 square kilometers (4,805 square
miles).
● The biosphere reserve was established in 2008.
● The Rann of Kutch is known for its unique ecosystem, which consists of
saline desert plains, grasslands, thorn scrub forests, and wetlands.
● The area also supports a population of endangered Indian wild ass, locally
known as the "ghudkhar".
● It is inhabited by various indigenous communities, including the Kutchi
people, who have adapted their lifestyle to the harsh desert environment.

17. Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve

● The Seshachalam Hills are hilly ranges part of the Eastern Ghats in
Andhra Pradesh (it is the frst Biosphere Reserve in Andhra Pradesh).
● In 2010 it was designated as a Biosphere Reserve. Seshachalam
biosphere is spread over Chittoor and Kadapa districts.
● Tirupati, a major Hindu pilgrimage town and the Sri Venkateswara
National Park are located in these ranges.
● It is home to a number of endemic species including the Red Sanders and
Slender Loris.
● Slender lorises are small nocturnal mammals and are arboreal in nature,
as they spend most of their life on trees.
● The native population of the reserve includes the tribes of Yanadis.