Biosphere Reserves in India

Why in News?

The International Day for Biosphere Reserves is observed annually on 3 November. Proclaimed by UNESCO, the day highlights the role of biosphere reserves in biodiversity conservation, sustainable development and balancing environmental protection with human well-being.

What are Biosphere Reserves?

• Biosphere reserves are areas identified by national governments to conserve biodiversity while promoting sustainable development.
• They function as living laboratories for testing and demonstrating sustainable practices.
• UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, launched in 1971, promotes scientific approaches to improving the relationship between people and their environment.
• The UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves comprises 797 reserves across 145 countries.

Three Levels of Biodiversity

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) recognises three levels of biodiversity:

1. Genetic Diversity: Variation within a species, such as different varieties of rice.
2. Species Diversity: Variety of species in an area, such as tigers, elephants and orchids in a forest.
3. Ecosystem Diversity: Variety of habitats, such as forests, grasslands, wetlands and coral reefs.

Zonation of Biosphere Reserves

Biosphere reserves follow a three-zone model to balance conservation and human activities.

Zone	Key Features
Core Zone	Highest level of protection; conserves ecosystems and biodiversity.
Buffer Zone	Surrounds or adjoins the core zone; allows compatible activities such as research, environmental education and regulated ecotourism.
Transition Zone	Supports human settlements, livelihoods and sustainable economic activities.

Biosphere Reserves in India

• India is one of the world’s 17 megadiverse countries.
• It accounts for approximately 7–8% of recorded species worldwide, despite occupying only 2.4% of Earth’s land area.
• India has 18 notified Biosphere Reserves, of which 13 are part of UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) administers the Centrally Sponsored Biodiversity Conservation Scheme, under the umbrella scheme Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems.
• Since 2022–23, the Ministry has piloted five-year Integrated Management Plans for four reserves:
  • Nanda Devi – Uttarakhand
  • Pachmarhi – Madhya Pradesh
  • Dehang-Dibang – Arunachal Pradesh
  • Agasthyamalai – Kerala and Tamil Nadu

Important Biosphere Reserves

1. Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve – Himachal Pradesh

• Covers approximately 7,770 sq. km, at elevations of 3,300–6,600 metres.
• Supports 732 vascular plant species, including 30 endemic species.
• Important fauna include snow leopards, Himalayan ibex and blue sheep.
• Around 12,000 people live in the region.
• Traditional livelihoods include pastoralism, yak and goat herding, barley and pea farming, and Tibetan herbal medicine.

2. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve – Western Ghats

• Covers approximately 5,52,000 hectares across Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.
• Includes tropical evergreen forests, montane shola forests and grasslands.
• Supports endemic and threatened species, including the endangered lion-tailed macaque and Nilgiri tahr.
• Other important fauna include elephants, tigers, gaur, sambar and chital.

India’s Biosphere Reserves

S. No.	Name of the Biosphere Reserve	Year of Designation	Year of Inclusion in WNBR	States	Area (sq. km)
1	Nilgiri*	1986	2000	Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka	5,520
2	Nanda Devi*	1988	2004	Uttarakhand	6,407.03
3	Nokrek*	1988	2009	Meghalaya	820
4	Gulf of Mannar*	1989	2001	Tamil Nadu	10,500
5	Sundarbans*	1989	2001	West Bengal	9,630
6	Manas	1989	—	Assam	2,837
7	Great Nicobar*	1989	2013	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	885
8	Similipal*	1994	2009	Odisha	5,569
9	Dibru-Saikhowa	1997	—	Assam	765
10	Dehang-Dibang	1998	—	Arunachal Pradesh	5,111.50
11	Pachmarhi*	1999	2009	Madhya Pradesh	4,981.72
12	Khangchendzonga*	2000	2018	Sikkim	2,931.12
13	Agasthyamalai*	2001	2016	Kerala and Tamil Nadu	3,500
14	Achanakmar-Amarkantak*	2005	2012	Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh	3,835.46
15	Great Rann of Kutch	2008	—	Gujarat	12,454
16	Cold Desert*	2009	2025	Himachal Pradesh	7,770
17	Seshachalam	2010	—	Andhra Pradesh	4,755.58
18	Panna*	2011	2020	Madhya Pradesh	2,998.98
Note: An (*) indicates Biosphere Reserves included in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR).

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