BIOSPHERE RESERVES OF INDIA

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Biosphere reserves of India

Biosphere Reserves (BRs) are representative parts of natural and cultural landscapes extending over large area of terrestrial or
coastal/marine ecosystems or a combination thereof and representative examples of bio-geographic zones/provinces.

Criteria for designation of BR

A site that must contain an effectively protected and minimally disturbed core area of value of nature conservation.

The core area should be typical of a bio-geographical unit and large enough to sustain viable populations representing all trophic
levels in the ecosystem.

The management authority to ensure the involvement/cooperation of local communities to bring variety of knowledge and
experiences to link biodiversity conservation and socio-economic development while managing and containing the conflicts.

Areas potential for preservation of traditional tribal or rural modes of living for harmonious use of environment.

The Indian government has established 18 Biosphere Reserves in India, which protect larger areas of natural habitat (than a National
Park or Animal Sanctuary), and often include one or more National Parks and/or preserves, along with buffer zones that are open to some
economic uses. Protection is granted not only to the flora and fauna of the poached hereon protected region, but also to the human
communities who inhabit these regions, and their ways of life. Animals are protected and saved here.

The UNESCO has introduced the designation Biosphere Reserve for natural areas to minimize conflict between development and
conservation. BRs are nominated by national government which meet a minimal set of criteria and adhere to minimal set of conditions for
inclusion in the world network of Biosphere reserves under the Man and Biosphere Reserve Programme of UNESCO.

Biosphere reserves are demarcated into following 3 inter-related zones:

Core Zone

Core zone must contain suitable habitat for numerous plant and animal species, including higher order predators and may contain
centres of endemism. Core areas often conserve the wild relatives of economic species and also represent important genetic reservoirs having
exceptional scientific interest. A core zone being National Park or Sanctuary/protected/regulated mostly under the Wildlife (Protection) Act,
1972. Whilst realizing that perturbation is an ingredient of ecosystem functioning, the core zone is to be kept free from l human pressures
external to the system.

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Buffer Zone

The buffer zone, adjoins or surrounds core zone, uses and activities are managed in this area in the ways that help in protection
of core zone in its natural condition. These uses and activities include restoration, demonstration sites for enhancing value addition to the
resources, limited recreation, tourism, fishing, grazing, etc; which are permitted to reduce its effect on core zone. Research and educational
activities are to be encouraged. Human activities, if natural within BR, are likely to continue if these do not adversely affect the ecological
diversity.

Transition Zone

The transition area is the outermost part of a biosphere reserve. This is usually not delimited one and is a zone of cooperation
where conservation knowledge and management skills are applied and uses are managed in harmony with the purpose of the biosphere
reserve. This includes settlements, crop lands, managed forests and area for intensive recreation and other economic uses characteristics
of the region.

Research and educational kept free from human

activities are encouraged. pressures external to
the system

TRANSITIONALAREA
BUFFERZONE
COREAREA

zone of cooperation where conservation

knowledge and management skills are applied
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Ten of the eighteen biosphere reserves in India are part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB)
Programme list

UNESCO MAB LIST

Name States Year
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka 2000
Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Tamil Nadu 2001
Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve West Bengal 2001
Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve Uttarakhand 2004
Nokrek Biosphere Reserve Meghalaya 2009
Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve Madhya Pradesh 2009
Simlipal Biosphere Reserve Odisha 2009
Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve Great Nicobar 2013
Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh 2012
Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve Kerala and Tamil Nadu 2016

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 BIOSPHERE RESERVES IN INDIA

Year Name Location State Key fauna

1986 Nilgiri Part of Waynad, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Tamil Nilgiri tahr, lion-tailed
Biosphere Mudumalai, Nilambur, Silent Valley Nadu, Kerala and Karnata macaque
Reserve ka(w.ghats)
1988 Nanda Devi Parts of Chamoli District, Pithoragarh Uttarakhand(w.Himalaya) Snow Leopard, Himalayan
National District & Bageshwar District Black Bear
Park &
Biosphere
Reserve
1989 Gulf of Indian part of Gulf of Mannar extending from Tamil Nadu Dugong or sea cow
Mannar Rameswaram island in the North to
Kanyakumari in the South of Tamil Nadu
and Sri Lanka
1988 Nokrek Part of Garo Hills Meghalaya(E.himalayas) Red panda
1989 Sundarbans Part of delta of Ganges and Brahmaputra river West Bengal Royal Bengal tiger
system
1989 Manas Part Assam(E.himalays) Golden langur, red panda
of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Ka
mrup and Darrang Districts
1994 Simlipal Part of Mayurbhanj district Odisha Gaur, royal Bengal
tiger, elephant
1998 Dihang- Part of Siang and Dibang Valley Arunachal Mishmi Takin, Musk Deer
Dibang Pradesh(E.Himalayas)
1999 Pachmarhi Parts of Betul District, Hoshangabad Madhya Pradesh Giant squirrel, flying squirrel
Biosphere District and Chhindwara District
Reserve

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2005 Achanakmar Part of Annupur, Dindori and Bilaspur districtsMadhya Four-horned antelope, Indian
- Pradesh, Chhattisgarh(Mai wild dog, Sarus crane, White-
Amarkantak kala Hills) rumped vulture, Philautus
Biosphere sanctisilvaticus (Sacred grove
Reserve bush frog)
2008 Great Rann Part of Kutch, Rajkot, Surendranagar and Patan Gujarat Indian wild ass
of Kutch Districts
2009 Cold Desert Pin Valley National Park and Himachal Snow leopard
surroundings;Chandratal and Sarchu & Kibber Pradesh(w.Himalayas)
Wildlife Sancturary
2000 Khangchend Parts of Kangchenjunga Sikkim(E.Himalayas) Snow leopard, red panda
zonga
2001 Agasthyamal Neyyar, Peppara and Shenduruny Wildlife Kerala, Tamil Nilgiri tahr, elephants
ai Biosphere Sanctuary and their adjoining areas Nadu(W.Ghtas)
Reserve
1989 Great Southern most islands of Andaman and Nicobar Andaman and Nicobar Saltwater crocodile
Nicobar Islands Islands
Biosphere
Reserve
1997 Dibru- Part of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts Assam(E. Himalayas) Golden langur
Saikhowa
2010 Seshachala Seshachalam Hill Ranges covering parts of Andhra Pradesh(E.Ghats) Slender Loris
m Hills Chittoor and Kadapa districts
2011 Panna Part of Panna District and Chhatarpur District Madhya Tiger, chital, chinkara, sambh
Pradesh(catchment area of ar and sloth bear
the Ken river)

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