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][3]

#NameStates/ UTYear
1 Nilgiri Biosphere ReserveTamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka2000
2 Gulf of Mannar Biosphere ReserveTamil Nadu2001
3 Sundarbans Biosphere ReserveWest Bengal2001
4 Nanda Devi Biosphere ReserveUttarakhand2004
5 Nokrek Biosphere ReserveMeghalaya2009
6 Pachmarhi Biosphere ReserveMadhya Pradesh2009
7 Simlipal Biosphere ReserveOdisha2009
8 Great Nicobar Biosphere ReserveAndaman & Nicobar Islands2013
9 Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere ReserveChhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh2012[2]
10 Agasthyamalai Biosphere ReserveKerala and Tamil Nadu2016[4]
11 Khangchendzonga National ParkSikkim2018[5]
12 Panna Biosphere ReserveMadhya Pradesh2020[6]

List of biosphere reserves in India

Biosphere reserves of India[7]
YearNameLocationStateTypeKey faunaArea (km2)
1 1986 Nilgiri Biosphere ReservePart of Waynad, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Mudumalai, Nilambur, Silent ValleyKarnataka, Tamil Nadu and KeralaWestern GhatsNilgiri tahr, tiger, lion-tailed macaque5520
2 1988Nanda Devi Biosphere ReserveParts of Chamoli District, Pithoragarh District & Bageshwar DistrictUttarakhandWestern HimalayasSnow leopard, Himalayan black bear5860
3 1988NokrekIn West Garo HillsMeghalayaEastern hillsRed panda820.00 
4 1989Gulf of MannarIndian part of Gulf of Mannar extending from Rameswaram island in the north to Kanyakumari in the south of Tamil Nadu and Sri LankaTamil NaduCoastsDugong10500
5 1989SundarbansPart of delta of Ganges and Brahmaputra river systemWest BengalGangetic DeltaRoyal Bengal tiger9630
6 1989ManasPart of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamrup and Darrang DistrictsAssamEastern HillsAsiatic elephant, tiger, Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur, pygmy hog2837
7 1989Great Nicobar Biosphere ReserveSouthernmost of the Andaman and Nicobar IslandsAndaman and Nicobar IslandsIslandsSaltwater crocodile885
8 1994SimlipalPart of Mayurbhanj districtOdishaDeccan PeninsulaGaur, royal Bengal tiger, Asian elephant4374
9 1998Dihang-DibangPart of Siang and Dibang ValleyArunachal PradeshEastern HimalayaMishmi takin, musk deer5112
10 1997Dibru-SaikhowaPart of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districtsAssamEastern HillsWhite-winged wood duck, water buffalo, black-breasted parrotbill, tiger, capped langur765
11 1999Pachmarhi Biosphere ReserveParts of Betul District, Hoshangabad District and Chhindwara DistrictMadhya PradeshSemi-AridGiant squirrel, flying squirrel4981.72
12 2000Khangchendzonga National ParkParts of KangchenjungaSikkimEast HimalayasSnow leopard, red panda2620
13 2001Agasthyamalai Biosphere ReserveNeyyar, Peppara and Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary and their adjoining areasKerala, Tamil NaduWestern GhatsNilgiri tahr, Asian elephant3500.08
14 2005Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere ReservePart of Annupur, Dindori and Bilaspur districtsMadhya Pradesh, ChhattisgarhMaikal HillsFour-horned antelope, Indian wild dog, sarus crane, white-rumped vulture, sacred grove bush frog3835
15 2008Great Rann of KutchPart of Kutch, Morbi, Surendranagar and Patan districts; the largest biosphere reserve in India.GujaratDesertIndian wild ass12454
16 2009Cold DesertPin Valley National Park and surroundings; Chandratal and Sarchu & Kibber Wildlife SanctuaryHimachal PradeshWestern HimalayasSnow leopard7770
17 2010Seshachalam HillsSeshachalam Hill Ranges covering parts of Chittoor and Kadapa districtsAndhra Pradesh Eastern HillsSlender loris4755.997[8]
18 2011[9] PannaPart of Panna and Chhattarpur districts in Madhya PradeshMadhya 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]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Biosphere Reserves in India" (PDF). Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  2. 1 2 "20 new Biosphere Reserves added to UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme". UNESCO. 11 July 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  3. ↑ "Man and the Biosphere Programme". UNESCO. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  4. ↑ "20 sites added to UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves". UNESCO. 19 March 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  5. ↑ Mohan, Vishwa (8 August 2018). "Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve gets entry into the UNESCO's global list". The Economic Times (India). Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  6. ↑ "Panna Biosphere Reserve, India". UNESCO. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  7. ↑ Biosphere Reserves Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.
  8. ↑ "Biosphere Reserves in India (as on Dec, 2014)". December 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  9. ↑ "The Environmental Planning & Coordination Organisation". epco.mp.gov.in. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  10. ↑ "Panna Tiger Reserve gets UNESCO's 'Biosphere Reserve' Status". Outlook India. 7 November 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  11. ↑ "Status of Biosphere reserves in India" (PDF). ENVIRO NEWS, Ministry of Environment and Forests. January–March 2008. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
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