Part of Biosphere Reserves

UNESCO has designated a Biosphere Reserve (BR) as a representative component of natural and cultural landscapes spanning a significant area of terrestrial, coastal/marine ecosystems, or a mix of these ecosystems. BRs are tasked with addressing one of the most pressing issues: how to balance biodiversity conservation, economic and social development, and the preservation of cultural values. BRs are, thus, unique places for both people and nature, demonstrating how humans and nature can coexist while respecting each other’s needs.

Criteria for designation of part reserves

The criteria for designation of part reserves are as follows:

– A site that must have a well-protected and lightly altered core area of high conservation value.

– The core area should be representative of a biogeographical unit and large enough to support healthy populations from all trophic levels of the ecosystem.

– The management authority is responsible for ensuring local community participation and cooperation to contribute a diverse range of expertise and experiences to integrate biodiversity conservation and socio-economic development while managing and resolving conflicts.

– Areas with the potential to preserve traditional tribal or rural ways of life to make the most use of the environment.

Part reserve zones

The biosphere reserves are divided into three zones that are interconnected:

Core Zone: The core zone must provide sufficient habitat for a diverse range of plant and animal species, including higher-order predators, and may also contain endemism centres. Core areas often protect wild relatives of economically significant species and act as major genetic reservoirs of high scientific interest. The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, protects and regulates a core zone, which is a National Park or Sanctuary. While acknowledging that disturbance is an inevitable part of ecosystem functioning, the core zone must be protected from external human demands.

Buffer Zone: The buffer zone adjoins or surrounds the core zone, and its uses and activities are controlled in such a way that the core zone is protected in its natural state. Restoration, demonstration areas for boosting resource value addition, limited recreation, tourism, fishing, grazing, and other uses and activities are allowed to decrease the impact on the core zone. Activities such as research and teaching should be promoted. If human activities within BR are natural, they are likely to continue if they do not hurt ecological variety.

Transition zone: A biosphere reserve’s transition zone is the farthest outpost. This is a cooperative zone where conservation knowledge and management skills are applied and uses are managed following the biosphere reserve’s aim. Settlements, cropland, managed woods, and areas for intensive recreation, as well as other economic uses, are all included.

Importance of Part reserves

They are a fantastic solution for establishing a balanced human-nature relationship. Recognising the importance of natural resources and biodiversity to humanity.

Gene banks: The world’s genetic variety, plant and animal species, ecosystems, and landscapes are all in peril. Food, fibre, medicines, and raw materials for industry and building are all derived from biodiversity.

Healthy Ecosystems: They help to maintain the systems that support life by reducing soil erosion, safeguarding water springs, and acting as decomposers, allowing nutrients to be recycled and pollutants to be absorbed.

Open classrooms are venues where people can learn about the organisation and dynamic movement of natural resources, including people.

They enable researchers to reproduce landscapes that have been impacted by human activity, identify extinct species, monitor climate change processes, and seek recovery of ecosystems and their components to make better judgments through study.

Experimentation: These are environments in which sustainable economic practices are established. They provide for the conservation of not only soil but also water and wild plant and animal species, among other things.

Environmental Education: These are websites that make it easier to understand and learn about natural ecosystem processes. As well as assisting in their recovery.

Land Use Planning: They use a participatory approach to land use planning. Landowners, public institutions, scientists, farmers, industry, and conservation groups all have a stake in these regions, and they can address disputes and mutual interests, and work together to find a complete land management solution.

Empowerment: Assist local governments in gaining more authority and collaborating on solutions to social and environmental issues.

Conclusion

Plant and animal protection is the goal of biosphere reserves, which are protected places. It also helps tribals in the area reclaim their ancient lifestyles. They help to protect the region’s biodiversity.

In India, the government has established 18 Biosphere Reserves to safeguard vast swaths of natural habitat. These areas have buffer zones that can be used for commercial purposes. These locations are protected not only for the flora and fauna but also for the people who live there.