Biosphere Reserves

Biosphere reserves

  • Biosphere reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems which promote conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use.
  • They serve in some ways as ‘living laboratories’ for testing out and demonstrating integrated management of land, water and biodiversity.
  • They are internationally recognized within framework of UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme and nominated by national governments.
  • There is World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) under MAB Programme.
  • Within this network, exchanges of information, experience and personnel are facilitated.
  • There are over 500 biosphere reserves in over 100 countries.
  • India has total 18 Biosphere Reserves and with inclusion of Khangchendzonga number of internationally designated WNBR has become 11 and remaining 7 Biosphere Reserves are domestic Biosphere Reserves.

 

Man & Biosphere Programme

  • UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme was launched in 1971 with aim of promoting interdisciplinary research, training, and communications in field of ecosystem conservation and rational use of natural resources.
  • The programme is suited to respond to results of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) and especially the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

 

Selection of Biosphere Reserves

  • Primary Criteria:
    • Site must contain effectively protected and minimally disturbed core area of value of nature conservation.
    • It should also include additional land and water suitable for research and demonstration of sustainable methods of research and management.
    • Its core area should be typical of biogeographical unit and large enough to sustain viable populations representing all trophic levels in the ecosystem.
  • Secondary Criteria: 
    • Areas having rare and endangered species, Areas having diversity of soil and micro-climatic conditions and indigenous varieties of biota, Areas potential for preservation of traditional tribal or rural modes of living for harmonious use of environment.

ias4sure.com - Biosphere Reserves

 

 

In below table, Bold ones are in World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR)

 

Sl. No

Year

Name

State

Type

Key Fauna

1

1989

Gulf of Mannar

Tamil Nadu

Coasts

Dugong or Sea Cow

2

1989

Sundarbans

West Bengal

Gangetic Delta

Royal Bengal Tiger

3

1988

Nanda Devi

Uttarakhand

Western Himalayas

NA

4

1986

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka

Western Ghats

Nilgiri Tahr, Lion-tailed macaque

5

1999

Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve

Madhya Pradesh

Semi-Arid

Giant Squirrel, Flying Squirrel

6

1994

Simlipal

Odisha

Deccan Peninsula

Gaur, Royal Bengal Tiger, Wild elephant

7

2005

Achanakamar -Amarkantak

Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh

Maikala Hills

NA

8

2000

Khangchendzonga

Sikkim

East Himalayas

Snow Leopard, Red Panda

9

1989

Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Islands

Saltwater Crocodile

10

1988

Nokrek

Meghalaya

East Himalayas

Red Panda

11

2001

Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve

Kerala, Tamil Nadu

Western ghats

Nilgiri Tahr, Elephants

12

1997

Dibru-Saikhowa

Assam

East Himalayas

Golden Langur

13

2008

Great Rann of Kutch

Gujarat

Desert

Indian Wild Ass

 

14

2009

Cold Desert

Himachal Pradesh

Western Himalayas

Snow Leopard

15

1998

Dihang-Dibang

Arunachal Pradesh

Eastern Himalaya

NA

16

2010

Seshachalam Hills

Andhra Pradesh

Eastern Ghats

NA

17

1989

Manas

Assam

East Himalayas

Golden Langur, Red Panda

18

2011

Panna

Madhya Pradesh

Ken River

Tiger, Chital, Chinkara, Sambharand Sloth bear

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