Biosphere Reserve

Biosphere Reserve

Biosphere Reserves are the multipurpose protected areas of terrestrial, marine and
coastal ecosystems for both flora and fauna.
Biosphere Reserves is an international designation by UNESCO for representative parts of
natural and cultural landscape, extending over terrestrial or coastal/ marine ecosystem or
combination of both.
Biosphere Reserve is an in-situ form of conservation.
It came in existence in 1971 as a part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s ‘Man and Biosphere Programme’(MAB).
Criteria for designation of Biosphere Reserve

 Protected area, minimally disturbed and carry value of nature conservation.
 Core area must be bio-geographical unit, representing all trophic levels.
 Involvement of local communities and use of their knowledge.
Zones of Biosphere Reserves
Three main zones of Biosphere reserves are as follows...

1.Core Area

2.Buffer zone

3.Transition Zone

Zones of Biosphere Reserves
Core Area – An entirely secured and protected ecosystem that contributes to the preservation of
landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation.
Buffer Zone – An area adjoining the Core area, utilized for training, scientific research and
education.
Transition Zone – An area where the social activities can be performed to promote sustainable
economic and human development.

Biosphere Reserves of India

 Total 18 Biosphere Reserves
 MAB Programme -12
 Largest - Gulf of Kachchh
 Smallest - Dibru- Saikhowa
 First - Nilgiri (1986)
 Latest - Panna (2020)

12 Biosphere reserves under the MAB in India

 Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
 Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve
 Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve
 Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve
 Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve
 Nokrek Biosphere Reserve
 Simlipal Biosphere Reserve
 Achanakmar- Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve
 Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve
 Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve
 Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve
 Panna Biosphere Reserve

6 (Non-MAB) Biosphere Reserves in India

 Manas Biosphere Reserve
 Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve
 Dehang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve
 Gulf of Kuchchh Biosphere Reserve
 Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve
 Seshachalam Hills Biosphere Reserve

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

 First Biosphere Reserve in India (1986)
 States - Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka.
 Vegetation - Tropical Evergreen Forests, Montane Sholas and Grasslands, Neelakurinji

Flowers (Blossoms in every 12 years), Dry and Moist Deciduous forests.
 Protected areas - Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Wyanaad Wildlife Sanctuary,

Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Mukurthi National Park and Silent
Valley National Park.
 Flora - 3300 Species of flowering plants, Genus Baeolepis (Endemic), 175 species of
Orchids(vanda, liparis,etc.), sholas
 Fauna- Nilgiri Tahr, Lion-tailed Macaque.
 Rivers - Tributaries of Cauvery, Bhavani, Moyar, kabini, Chaliyar, Punampuzha
 Tribal groups - Todas, Kotas, Irullas, Kurumbas, Cholanaickens, etc.

Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve

 State: - Uttarakhand
 World Heritage Site by UNESCO
 Unique transition zone between the mountain ranges of the Zanskar and the Great

Himalayas
 Renamed as Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks
 Protected Areas: - Valley of Flower National Park, Nanda Devi National Park
 Vegetation: - Alpine Meadows, Dry Deciduous
 Flora:- Fir, Birch, Rhododendron and Juniper
 Fauna:- Snow Leopard, Brown bear, Himalayan Musk Deer, mainland

serow ,Himalayan Tahr, Goral
 Rivers: - Alaknanda River and its tributaries, including Rishi Ganga, Dhauli Ganga,

Pushwapati, and Khir Ganga.
 Tribal Groups: - Bhotia

Nokrek Biosphere Reserve

 State: - Meghalaya
 Mountainous Area
 Nokrek - Highest peak of the Garo hills
 Hotspot of biodiversity in Meghalaya.
 Siju Cave located close to Nokrek
 Important Bird Area
 Protected Areas: - Nokrek National Park, Balphakram National Park
 Vegetation: - Evergreen and Semi-evergreen Deciduous forests, Bamboo Forest
 Flora: - Citrus indica (locally known as Memang Narang)
 Fauna: - Red panda , Asian elephant ,Royal Bengal tiger, Wild water Buffalo

(Endangered)
 Rivers: - River Simsang, known as Someshwari, Ganol, Dareng
 Tribal Groups: - Garo, Banias or Hajjons

Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve

 Location: - Andaman & Nicobar Islands
 Vegetation: - Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests
 Protected Areas: - Campbell National Park, Galathea National Park
 Fauna :- Nicobar Scrubfowl ,The Nicobar Long- Tailed Macaque ,Saltwater

Crocodile , Giant Leatherback Sea Turtle
 Tribal Groups: - Onge, Shompen, Nicobarese, Jarawas

Gulf Of Mannar Biosphere Reserve

 Location: - Tamil Nadu (Laccadive Sea)
 First Marine Biosphere Reserve in Asia
 Chain of low Islands - Adam’s Bridge/Ramsethu
 Vegetation: - Dugong-Dugong Sea Grass, Coral Reefs, Seagrass Beds and Mangroves
 Protected Areas: - Gulf of Mannar National Park
 Flora: - Pearl Banks-Pinctada radiata, Pinctada Fucata, Rhizophora, etc.
 Fauna: - Dugong, Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin, Spinner dolphin, Common

Dolphin, Risso’s dolphin, Melon-Headed Whale, and Dwarf Sperm Whale.

Manas Biosphere Reserve

 Location - Foothills of the Eastern Himalaya(Assam)
 Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
 Tiger Reserve & an Elephant Reserve.
 Chirang Ripu Elephant Reserve under Project Elephant.
 Contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan.
 Vegetation: - Monsoon forests, Semi-evergreen Forests, Grasslands etc.
 Protected Areas: - Manas National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary
 Fauna :- One Horned Rhino, Golden Mahseer, Assam Roofed Turtle, Hispid

Hare, Golden Langur , Pygmy Hog, Wild Water Buffalo.
 River: - River Manas

Sundarban Biosphere Reserve

 Location: - West Bengal
 Largest Delta and Mangrove Forest in the World
 UNESCO World Heritage Site
 Ramsar Site
 Protected Areas: - Sundarban National Park
 Vegetation: - Mangrove Forests
 Flora: - Sundri Trees
 Fauna:- The Royal Bengal Tiger, Gangetic Dolphin, Olive Ridley Turtle, Wild

boar, Indian Grey Mongoose,
 Rivers: - Ganga, Brahmaputra, Meghna River
 Bengali folk epic Manasamangal mentions Netidhopani (A location for visitors to

Sunderban)

Simlipal Biosphere Reserve

 Location: - Odisha
 Named after the abundance of red silk cotton trees growing in the area.
 UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves
 Barehipani Falls (River Buddhabulanga- tributary of River Brahmani)
 Tiger Reserve& an Elephant Reserve.
 Protected Areas: - Simlipal National Park, Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Kuldiha

Wildlife Sanctuary
 Vegetation:- Sal forests, Moist Deciduous Forests , Tropical Moist Broadleaf

Forest and Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests, Dry Deciduous Hill Forest,
Grasslands and Savannas
 Flora: - Eucalyptus
 Fauna :- Bengal Tiger, Asian elephant, Gaur, and Chausingha
 Rivers: - Budhabalang, Baitarani, Subarnarekha
 Tribal Groups: - Ho, Munda, Gonda, Erenga Kharias, Mankadia Tribe

Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve

 Location: - Assam
 Smallest Biosphere Reserve in Area
 Largest Willow Swamp Forest in North East Region
 Vegetation: - Semi-evergreen Forests, Deciduous, Littoral and Swamp Forests and

Patches of Wet Evergreen Forests, Canebrakes and Grasslands
 Protected Areas: - Dibru Saikhowa National Park
 Fauna:- White Winged Wood Duck , Bengal Tiger, Indian Leopard, Clouded

Leopard, Small Indian Civet, Malayan Giant Squirrel, Chinese Pangolin, Ganges
Dolphin
 Rivers: - Lohit (North), Dibru (South)

Dihang- Dibang Biosphere Reserve

 Location: - Arunachal Pradesh
 Vegetation: - Tropics to Mountain Tundra.
 Sub-Tropical Broad-Leafed Forests, Sub Tropical Pine Forest, Temperate Broad-

Leafed Forests, Temperate Conifer, Sub-Alpine Woody Shrub, Alpine Meadow
(Mountain Tundra), Bamboo, Grassland
 Protected Areas: - Maoling National Park, Dibang Wild Life Sanctuary
 Fauna:- Mishmi Takin, Musk Deer , Red Panda, Asiatic Black Bear, Mechuka Giant
Flying Squirrel , Mishmi Hills Giant Flying Squirrel
 Rivers: - River Dihang, River Dibang

 Tribal Groups: - Mishmi, Komkar

Panchmarhi Biosphere Reserve

 Location: - Madhya Pradesh
 Protected Areas: - Satpura National Park, Bori Wildlife Sanctuary, Pachmarhi

Wildlife Sanctuary
 Dhupgarh Hill Station
 Mahadeo Hills, Maikal Hill Range, Vindhyanand Satpura
 Highest Peak- Dhoopgarh
 Vegetation: - Tropical Moist Deciduous, Tropical Dry Deciduous, Sub Tropical Hill

Forests
 Flora:-Teak, Sal ,Wild Mango, Silver Fern, Jamun and Arjun , Cuddapah Almond
 Fauna:- Gaur, Chital Deer , Sambar Deer, Rhesus Macaque, Four Horned Antelope,

Indian Wild Dog, Sarus Crane, Sacred Grove Bush Frog
 Rivers: - Tawa River
 Tribal Groups: - Gond, Korkus

Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve

 Only Mixed Heritage Site in India as per UNESCO
 Location – Bordering Nepal, Tibet (China) and Bhutan
 States: - Sikkim
 Vegetation: -Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests , Alpine grasses and Shrubs

and Herbs
 Flora: - Epiphytes and Lianas
 Valleys with numerous ravines
 Protected Areas: - Kanchenjunga National Park
 Fauna:- Snow Leopard, Red Panda, Musk Deer, Indian Leopard, Himalayan Thar
 Rivers: -Tamur River, Zemu Glacier (Source of River Teesta)
 Tribe: - Lepcha

Agasthamalai Biosphere Reserve

 Located in the Southernmost end of the Western Ghats
 States: - Kerala & Tamil Nadu
 Protected Areas: -Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Sendurney Wildlife Sanctuary,

Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalkad Mudunthurai Wildlife Sanctuary
 Vegetation:- Tropical Forest Ecosystem, Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests, South

Western Ghats Moist Deciduous Forests, South Western Ghats Montane Rain
Forests and Shola

 Flora: - Cardamom, Jamun, Nutmeg, Pepper, Plantain
 Fauna: - Nilgiri Thar, Asian Elephant,
 Rivers: - Tamraprani River
 Tribal Groups: - Kannikaran Tribe

Achanakmar- Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve

 Location: - Madhya Pradesh- Chhattisgarh Border
 Origin- River Narmada
 Protected Areas: - Achanakmar- Amarkantak Wildlife Sanctuary
 Maikal Hills (Represents the confluence of Vindhyan & Sapura Range)
 Vegetation: - Tropical Deciduous Forests, Tropical Dry Deciduous Vegetation
 Fauna: - Chitals, Sambars, Bison, Barking Deer, Panther, Bear, Tigers, Wolves
 Rivers: - Narmada, Johilla, Son

Rann of Kutch Biosphere Reserve

 Location: - Gujarat
 Largest Biosphere Reserve
 Banni Grassland
 Rann of Kutch Lake has two Island: Paccham Island & Khadir Byet.
 Largest Salt Desert in the World
 Strange dancing light phenomenon known locally as Chir Batti (Ghost Lights)

occurs in the Rann of Kutch
 Unique example of Holocene Sedimentation
 Vegetation: - Semi-Arid Grasslands
 Protected Areas: - Little Rann of Kutch, Great Rann of Kutch, Kutch Desert

Sanctuary, Wild Ass Sanctuary
 Fauna: - Indian Wild Ass, Lesser flamingos, Largest Flocks of Greater
 Rivers: - Luni, Rupen, Banas
 Tribal Groups: - Agaria Tribe

Cold Desert Biosphere Reserves

 Located in the Western Himalayas
 State: - Himachal Pradesh
 Area of Terrestrial and Coastal Ecosystem
 Lies in rain shadow of Himalayas
 Chandra Taal, Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, Pin Valley National Park, Sarchu
 Flora: - Herbs and Shurbs

 Fauna: - Tibetan Gazelle, Snow Leopard, Himalayan Black Bear, Himalayan Brown
Bear, Red Fox, Tibetan Wolf

Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve

 Between Palikonda and Velikonda Hills
 State: - Andhra Pradesh (Part of Eastern Ghats)
 Tirupati, a Major Hindu Pilgrimage Town
 Sandstone and shale minerals
 Protected Areas: - Sri Venkateshwara National Park, Sri Venkateshwara Wildlife

Sanctuary
 Flora: -Red Sanders, Red Sandalwood
 Fauna: - Slender Loris Animal
 River: - River Penneru
 Tribal Groups: - Yanadis.

Panna Biosphere Reserve

 States: - Madhya Pradesh
 Bundelkhand Plateau
 Tiger Reserve of India
 Ken- Betwa Project
 Daudhan Dam .
 Vegetation: - Tropical and Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests Belt
 Protected Areas: - Panna National Park, Ken Gharial Sanctuary
 Fauna:- Bengal tiger, Indian Leopard, Chital, Chinkara, Nilgai, Sambar Deer
 Rivers: - River Ken

Mahendragiri Biosphere Reserve (Proposed)

 Proposed by Odisha Government
 Second highest peak of Odisha after Deomali
 Transition zone between flora and fauna of southern India and Himalayas
 Tribe: - Saura, Kandhra (PVTG)

Thar Biosphere Reserve (Proposed)

 Location: - Western Rajasthan
 Fauna: - Great Indian Bustard, Desert Cats, Vultures

Mura Drava Danube Biosphere Reserve

 Location: -Austria, Slovenis, Croatia, Hungary, Serbia
 World’s First 5 Countries Biosphere Reserve
 Called as Amazon of Europe
 Largest Riverine Protected Area of the Continent
 Fauna: - White Tailed Eagle, Black Stork, Little Tern,