Biosphere Reserves in India

Biosphere reserves serve as sites for integrative approaches to learning and supervising interactions and changes between the ecological and social systems. Significant biosphere reserves in India are also responsible for preventing conflict and managing biodiversity.

The established 18 Biosphere Reserves in India provide local solutions to worldwide challenges. They include marine, coastal, and terrestrial ecosystems. All BR sites promote solutions for restoring biodiversity with sustainable approaches.

Thus, Biosphere Reserves create a unique environment for both humans and nature. They showcase how humans and nature can co-exist and respect each other’s requirements.

The Biosphere Reserve Programme of India

India launched the Biosphere Reserve Programme under the guidance of UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB). India is also a signatory to the landscape approach to the same programme.

Since 1986, the Government of India has been implementing a scheme called Biosphere Reserve to develop some of the vital biosphere reserves in the country. Under this scheme, financial assistance is provided in the 90:10 ratio to the North-Eastern and 3 Himalayan States and in the ratio of 60:40 to other states for maintaining, improving, and developing certain items.

The State Government plans out the Management Action approved by the Central MAB Committee. After approval, the Central MAB Committee monitors the state government’s activities in developing the important biosphere reserves in India.

Biosphere Reserves Zones

The significant biosphere reserves in India are divided into three zones based on their functionality and interaction. They are:

• Core Zone: It is the highly protected innermost zone that helps conserve ecosystems, landscapes, genetic variation, and species.

• Buffer Zone: Surrounding the Core Zone, this area allows activities compatible with sound ecological practices that may reinforce monitoring, scientific research, education, and training.

• Transition Zone: This zone fosters socio-culturally and ecologically endurable economic and human social activities.

Total Number of Biosphere Reserves In India

A total of 18 biosphere reserves in India are established, of which 12 fall under the MAB Programme of UNESCO. Important biosphere reserves in India are: 

• Cold Desert

Established on: 28/08/2009

Region Covered: 7,770 square km

Coverage: Parts of Chandratal & Sarchu, Pin Valley National Park, and Kibber Wildlife sanctuary.

State: Himachal Pradesh

Key Fauna: Snow Leopard

• Nanda Devi (MAB)

Established on: 18/01/1988 

Region Covered: 5,860.69 square km

Coverage: Parts of Pithoragarh, Chamoli, and Almora districts.

State: Uttarakhand

Key Fauna: Himalayan Snow Leopard

• Khangchendzonga (MAB)

Established on: 07/02/2000

Region Covered: 2,931.12 square km

Coverage: Parts of the Northern and Western districts.

State: Sikkim

Key Fauna: Red Panda and Snow Leopard

• Dehang-Dibang

Established on: 02/09/1998

Region Covered: 5,111.5square km

Coverage: Parts of the Upper and West Siang and Dibang Valley district.

State: Andhra Pradesh

Key Fauna: Binturong and Red panda

• Manas

Established on: 14/03/1989

Region Covered: 2,837 square km

Coverage: Parts of Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Barpeta, Kamprup, Nalbari and Darang districts.

State: Assam

Key Fauna: Red Panda and Golden Langur

• Nokrek (MAB)

Established on: 01/09/1988

Region Covered: 820 square km

Coverage: Parts of the Eastern, Southern and Western Garo Hill districts.

State: Meghalaya

Key Fauna: Red Panda

• Dibru-Saikhowa

Established on: 28/07/1997

Region Covered: 765 square km

Coverage: Parts of the Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts.

State: Assam

Key Fauna: Golden Langur

• Panna (MAB)

Established on: 25/08/2011

Region Covered: 2,998.98square km

Coverage: Parts of Panna and Chhatarpur districts.

State: Madhya Pradesh

Key Fauna: Sloth Bear, Chinkara, Chital, Sambhar and Tiger

• Kachchh

Established on: 29/01/2008

Region Covered: 12,454 square km

Coverage: Parts of Kutch, Surendranagar, Rajkot and Patan districts. 

State: Gujarat

Key Fauna: Indian Wild Ass

• Pachmarhi (MAB)

Established on: 03/03/1999

Region Covered: 4981.72square km

Coverage: Parts of Hoshangabad, Betul and Chhindwara districts.

State: Madhya Pradesh

Key Fauna: Giant Squirrel and Flying Squirrel

• Achanakmar- Amarkantak (MAB)

Established on: 30/03/2005

Region Covered: 3,835.51 square km

Coverage: Parts of Dindori, Anuppur and Bilaspur districts.

State: Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh

Key Fauna: Leopards, Chital and Gaur.

• Sunderban (MAB)

Established on: 29/03/1989

Region Covered: 9,630 square km

Coverage: Parts of the delta of the Brahmaputra & Ganga river system.

State: West Bengal

Key Fauna: Royal Bengal Tiger

• Similipal (MAB)

Established on: 21/06/1994

Region Covered: 4,374 square km

Coverage: Part of Mayurbhanj district.

State: Orissa

Key Fauna: Royal Bengal Tiger, Gaur and Wild Elephant

• Seshachalam

Established on: 20/09/2010

Region Covered: 4,755.997 square km

Coverage: Parts of the Eastern Ghat’s Seshachalam hills and surrounding parts of the Kadapa and Chittoor districts.

State: Andhra Pradesh

Key Fauna: Golden Jackal, Wild Dog, Indian Fox, Sloth Bear and Jungle Cat

• Nilgiri (MAB)

Established on: 01/08/1986

Region Covered: 5,520 square km

Coverage: Part of Mudumalai, Nagarhole, Wayanad, Nilambur, Bandipur and Silent Valley and Siruvani hills.

State: Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala 

Key Fauna: the Lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri Tahr

• Agasthyamalai (MAB)

Established on: 12/11/2001

Region: 3,500.36 square km

Coverage: Part of Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, and Pathanamthitta districts.

State: Karnataka and Kerala

Key Fauna: Elephants, Nilgiri Tahr

• Gulf of Mannar (MAB)

Established on: 18/02/1989

Region Covered: 10,500 square km

Coverage: Some areas of the Gulf of Mannar, including the Rameswaram island (North) to Kanyakumari (South).

State: Tamil Nadu

Key Fauna: Dugong or Sea Cow

• Great Nicobar (MAB)

Established on: 6/01/1989

Region Covered: 885 square km

Coverage: South of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Key Fauna: Saltwater Crocodile 

Conclusion

Countries nominate their biosphere reserves, and UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB) provides them recognition. Establishing biosphere reserves is crucial to promoting sustainable development opportunities in the area by utilising local community efforts and advancing science. Biosphere reserves form to conserve all life forms and their entire support systems. Additionally, they serve as a referral system for evaluating and monitoring changes in natural ecosystems. 

Today, India’s 18 biosphere reserves provide a place for humans and nature to live peacefully and respect each other’s needs.