Are you aware of various biosphere reserves in India? UNESCO's MAB Programme or The Man And Biosphere Programme was launched in 1971 which initiated seyting up Biosphere Reserves. Biosphere Reserve (BR) is a designated area meant for wildlife preservation by
the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation for representative
parts of natural and cultural landscapes extending over large areas of terrestrial or coastal/marine ecosystems or a combination of both. The aim is to establish a scientific basis for enhancing the relationship between people and their environments.
India too made followed the standards set by UNESCO and initiated its own Biosphere Conservation Programme. The list of biosphere reserves in India must be known to all the candidates' competitive examinations. There are 7 biosphere reserves from India Included in the MAB programme.
This article will cover various biosphere reserves and the List Of Biosphere Reserves In India. If you are preparing for competitive exams and looking for expert guidance, you can download our General Knowledge Free Ebook
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List Of Biosphere Reserves
Before we list the biosphere reserves along with their location candidates must know the criteria for setting up of biosphere reserve. Criteria for Designation of Biosphere Reserve
- A site must contain a protected and minimally disturbed core area of value of nature conservation.
- The core area must be a bio-geographical unit and should be large enough to sustain viable populations representing all trophic levels.
- The involvement of local communities and use of their knowledge in biodiversity preservation.
- Areas potential for preservation of traditional tribal or rural modes of living for harmonious use of the environment.
There are 727 biosphere reserves in 131 countries, including 22 transboundary sites. They are distributed as follows:
- 86 sites in 31 countries in Africa
- 35 sites in 14 countries in the Arab States
- 168 sites in 40 countries in Asia and the Pacific
- 306 sites in 24 countries in Europe and North America
- 132 sites in 22 countires Latin America and the Caribbean.
- There are 18 biosphere reserves in India:
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The List Of Biosphere Reserves In India:
The list is as follows:
- Cold Desert, Himachal Pradesh
- Nanda Devi, Uttrakhand
- Khangchendzonga, Sikkim
- Dehang-Debang, Arunachal Pradesh
- Manas, Assam
- Dibru-Saikhowa, Assam
- Nokrek, Meghalaya
- Panna, Madhya Pradesh
- Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh
- Achanakmar-Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh
- Kachchh, Gujarat (Largest Area)
- Similipal, Odisha
- Sundarban, West Bengal
- Seshachalam, Andhra Pradesh
- Agasthyamala, Karnataka-Tamil Nadu-Kerala
- Nilgiri, Tamil Nadu-Kerala (First to be Included)
- Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu
- Great Nicobar, Andaman & Nicobar Island
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List Of Biosphere Reserves Included In MAB List
There are 7 most significant biosphere reserves that are listed in the MAB list. The Biosphere reserves included in the MAB list enjoy the special distinction of global recognition, but the magnet and control of such areas are under the National Government, Unesco guides and assists the member nation. The Indian List of biosphere reserves includes 1 marine national park and 10 other land-based national parks. The detailed list is as follows:
- Nilgiri (First to be included)
- Gulf of Mannar
- Sunderban
- Nanda Devi
- Nokrek
- Pachmarhi
- Similipal
- Achanakmar - Amarkantak
- Great Nicobar
- Agasthyamala
- Khangchendzonga
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It is important to note that the essential methodology of biosphere conservation involves Man as the name suggests. Biosphere reserves look to integrate the local forest inhabitants for conservation and train them for scientific management of the area.
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Check out the list of national parks here.
Name of State |
List Of National Parks |
Andhra Pradesh |
Papikonda |
Rajiv Gandhi (Rameswaram) |
Sri Venkateswara |
|
Arunachal Pradesh |
|
Assam |
Dibru-Saikhowa |
Kaziranga |
Manas |
Nameri |
Rajiv Gandhi (Orang) |
|
Bihar |
Valmiki |
Chhattisgarh |
Guru Ghasidas (Sanjay) |
Indravati (Kutru) |
Kanger Valley |
|
Goa |
Mollem |
Gujarat |
Blackbuck (Velavadar) |
Gir |
Marine (Gulf of Kachchh) |
Vansda |
|
Haryana |
|
Himachal Pradesh |
Great Himalayan |
Inderkilla |
Khirganga |
Pin Valley |
Col. Sherjung Simbalbara |
|
Jharkhand |
Betla |
Karnataka |
Anshi |
Bandipur |
Bannerghatta |
Kudremukh |
Nagarahole (Rajiv Gandhi) |
|
Kerala |
Anamudi Shola |
Eravikulam |
Mathikettan Shola |
Pambadum Shola |
Periyar |
Silent Valley |
|
Madhya Pradesh |
Bandhavgarh |
Dinosaur Fossils |
Fossil |
Pench |
Kanha |
Kuno |
Madhav |
Panna |
Sanjay |
Satpura |
Van Vihar |
|
Maharashtra |
Chandoli |
Gugamal |
Nawegaon |
Pench (Jawaharlal Nehru) |
Sanjay Gandhi (Borivilli) |
Tadoba |
|
Manipur |
|
Meghalaya |
|
Mizoram |
Murlen |
Phawngpui (Blue Mountain) |
|
Nagaland |
Intanki |
Odisha |
|
Rajasthan |
Desert |
Keoladeo Ghana |
Mukundra Hills |
Ranthambhore |
Sariska |
|
Sikkim |
Khangchendzonga |
Tamil Nadu |
Guindy |
Gulf of Mannar Marine |
Indira Gandhi (Annamalai) |
Mudumalai |
Mukurthi |
|
Telangana |
Kasu Brahmananda Reddy |
Mahaveer Harina Vanasthali |
Mrugavani |
|
Tripura |
Clouded Leopard |
Bison (Rajbari) |
|
Uttar Pradesh |
Dudhwa |
Uttarakhand |
Corbett |
Gangotri |
Govind |
Nanda Devi |
Rajaji |
Valley of Flowers |
|
West Bengal |
Buxa |
Gorumara |
Jaldapara |
Neora Valley |
Singalila |
Sunderban |
|
Andaman & Nicobar Islands |
Campbell Bay |
Galathea Bay |
Mahatama Gandhi Marine (Wandoor) |
Mount Harriett |
Rani Jhansi Marine |
Saddle Peak |
|
Jammu & Kashmir |
City Forest (Salim Ali) |
Dachigam |
Kazinag |
Kishtwar High Altitute |
|
Ladakh |
Hemis |
The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve was the first biosphere reserve in India established in the year 1986.
Part of Kutch, Morbi, Surendranagar and Patan districts; the largest biosphere reserve in India.
There are 18 Biosphere reserves in India as of 2022, of which 12 are also part of the UNESCO MAB Programme.