Biosphere reserves of India explained
There are 18 biosphere reserves in India.[1] They protect larger areas of natural habitat than a typical national park or animal sanctuary, and often include one or more national parks or reserves, along with buffer zones that are open to some economic uses. Protection is granted not only to the flora and fauna of the protected region, but also to the human communities who inhabit these regions, and their ways of life. In total there are 18 biosphere reserves in India.
World network
Twelve of the eighteen biosphere reserves are a part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, based on the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme list.[1] [2]
List of biosphere reserves in India
Biosphere reserves of India[7] | Year | Name | Location | State | Type | Key fauna | Area (km2) |
|---|
| 1 | 1986 | | | | | Nilgiri tahr, tiger, lion-tailed macaque | 5520 |
| 2 | 1988 | | | | | | 5860 |
| 3 | 1988 | | | | Eastern hills | Red panda | 820.00 |
| 4 | 1989 | | Indian part of Gulf of Mannar extending from Rameswaram island in the north to Kanyakumari in the south of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka | | | | 10500 |
| 5 | 1989 | | Part of delta of Ganges and Brahmaputra river system | | | Royal Bengal tiger | 9630 |
| 6 | 1989 | | Part of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamrup and Darrang Districts | | Eastern Hills | Asiatic elephant, tiger, Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur, pygmy hog | 2837 |
| 7 | 1989 | | | | | Saltwater crocodile | 885 |
| 8 | 1994 | | | | | Gaur, royal Bengal tiger, Asian elephant | 4374 |
| 9 | 1998 | | | | | Mishmi takin, musk deer | 5112 |
| 10 | 1997 | | Part of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts | | Eastern Hills | | 765 |
| 11 | 1999 | | | | Semi-Arid | Giant squirrel, flying squirrel | 4981.72 |
| 12 | 2000 | | | | | Snow leopard, red panda | 2620 |
| 13 | 2001 | | Neyyar, Peppara and Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve and their adjoining areas | | | Nilgiri tahr, Asian elephant | 3500.08 |
| 14 | 2005 | | Part of Annupur, Dindori and Bilaspur districts | Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh | Maikal Hills | Four-horned antelope, Indian wild dog, sarus crane, white-rumped vulture, sacred grove bush frog | 3835 |
| 15 | 2008 | | Part of Kutch, Morbi, Surendranagar and Patan districts; the largest biosphere reserve in India. | | | | 12454 |
| 16 | 2009 | | Pin Valley National Park and surroundings; Chandratal and Sarchu & Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary | | | Snow leopard | 7770 |
| 17 | 2010 | Seshachalam Hills biosphere | Seshachalam Hill Ranges covering parts of Chittoor and Kadapa districts | Andhra Pradesh | Eastern Hills | | 4755.997[8] |
| 18 | 2011[9] | | Part of Panna and Chhattarpur districts in Madhya Pradesh | Madhya Pradesh | Moist deciduous forest | Bengal tiger, Chinkara, Nilgai, Sambhar sambar deer, and Sloth bear | 2998.98[10] | |
Key fauna
| Name | Key fauna |
|---|
| Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve | Lion Tailed Macaque (EN), Nilgiri Tahr (EN), Malabar Giant Squirrel (LC), Nilgiri Langur (VU) |
| Nanda Devi | Snow Leopard (VU), Musk Deer (EN), Bharal Or Blue Sheep (LC) |
| Nokrek | Red Panda (EN), Hoolock Gibbons (EN), Red Giant Flying Squirrel (LC) |
| Great Nicobar | Dugong (VU), Saltwater Crocodile (LC) |
| Gulf of Mannar | Dugong (VU), Olive Ridley turtles (VU) |
| Manas | Assam Roofed Turtle (EN), Hispid Hare (EN), Golden Langur (EN), Pygmy Hog (EN), Wild Water Buffalo (EN), Bengal florican (CR) |
| Sunderbans | Royal Bengal Tiger (EN) |
| Simlipal | Royal Bengal Tigers, Wild Elephants (EN), Gaurs (VU – Indian Bison), Chausingha (VU) |
| Dibru-Saikhowa | Bengal Tiger, Clouded Leopard (VU), Gangetic Dolphin (EN) |
| Dehang-Dibang | Takin (VU), Red Panda (EN) |
| Pachmarhi | Tiger, Gaur, Indian Giant Flying Squirrels (LC) |
| Khangchendzonga | Red Panda (EN), Snow Leopard (VU), Musk Deer (EN), Great Tibetan Sheep (Argali – NT) |
| Agasthyamalai | Nilgiri Tahr (EN) |
| Achanakamar - Amarkantak | Four Horned Antelope (Chausingha (VU)), Indian Wild Dog (VU) |
| Great Rann of Kutch (Kachchh) | Great Indian Bustard (CR), Indian Wild Ass (NT) |
| Cold Desert | Snow Leopard (VU), Himalayan Ibex (also referred to as Siberian Ibex – LC) |
| Seshachalam Hills | Red Sanders (NT), Golden Gecko (LC – Endemic To Tirumala Hills) |
| Panna | Tiger (EN), Chital (LC), Chinkara (LC), Sambar (VU) | |
Potential sites
The following is a list of potential sites for Biosphere Reserves as selected by Ministry of Forests and Environment:[11]
- Abujmarh, Chhattisgarh
- Andaman and Nicobar, North Islands
- Chintapalli, Visakhapatnam Andhra Pradesh
- Kanha, Madhya Pradesh
- Kovalam, Kerala
- Lakshadweep Islands, Lakshadweep
- Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat
- Phawngpui (Blue Mountain), Mizoram
- Namdapha, Arunachal Pradesh
- Singhbhum, Jharkhand
- Tawang and West Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh
- Thar Desert, Rajasthan
- Tadoba National Park and Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Maharashtra
See also
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Biosphere Reserves in India . Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change . 2019 . 5 February 2020.
- Web site: Man and the Biosphere Programme . UNESCO . 5 February 2020.
- Web site: 20 new Biosphere Reserves added to UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme . UNESCO . 11 July 2012 . 5 February 2020.
- Web site: 20 sites added to UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves . UNESCO . 19 March 2016 . 5 February 2020.
- News: Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve gets entry into the UNESCO's global list . The Economic Times (India) . Vishwa . Mohan . 8 August 2018 . 5 February 2020.
- Web site: Panna Biosphere Reserve, India . UNESCO . 28 January 2022 . en . 12 November 2020.
- https://moef.gov.in/en/biosphere-reserves/ Biosphere Reserves
- Web site: Biosphere Reserves in India (as on Dec, 2014) . December 2014 . 23 December 2021.
- Web site: The Environmental Planning & Coordination Organisation . 2023-12-27 . epco.mp.gov.in.
- News: Panna Tiger Reserve gets UNESCO's 'Biosphere Reserve' Status . . 7 November 2020 . 23 December 2021.
- Web site: Status of Biosphere reserves in India . January–March 2008. 9 . ENVIRO NEWS, Ministry of Environment and Forests . 14. 1 June 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130120033254/http://envfor.nic.in/news/janmar08/environews_jan_mar08.pdf . 20 January 2013.
