INTRODUCTION
Biosphere Reserve (BR) represents natural and cultural landscapes extending over a large area of terrestrial or marine ecosystems or both. BRs are formed to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity, forest economy, local social development and maintenance of environmental cultural values. BRs are special environments for human beings and nature to co-exist and respect each others’ needs.
Largest Biosphere reserve in India is the Gulf of Kachchh, Gujarat and the Smallest Biosphere Reserve in India is Dibru-Saikhowa in Assam
CRITERIA FOR A BIOSPHERE RESERVE
- The ecological site must contain protected and minimally disturbed core area of value of nature conservation.
- The core area should be large enough to sustain the populations representing at all trophic levels in the ecosystem.
- The management authority to ensure the cooperation of local communities, so that there hereditary knowledge and experiences of biodiversity conservation and socio-economic development could be utilised and also avoid conflicts.
- Tribal or rural modes of living of that place are harmonious to the environment.
STRUCTURE OF A BIOSPHERE RESERVE
Biosphere reserves are majorly demarcated into 3 zones:-
- Core Zone: Core zone is the central point area of a BR which should have endemic plant and animal species. Core areas act as a genetic reservoir. Mostly a core is a National Park or Sanctuary that is protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The core zone is kept free from human interference that is external to the core zone eco-system.
- Buffer Zone: The adjoining area around the core zone is a Buffer Zone. It helps in protection of the core zone in its natural condition. Limited recreation, tourism, fishing, grazing, research and educational activities etc are permitted in the buffer zone.
- Transition Zone: The transition zone area is the outermost part of the biosphere reserve. It is usually not delimited. Agriculture, human settlements, croplands, managed forests, intensive recreation etc are permitted in transition zone until till does not disturbs the ecosystem.
UNESCO RECOGNISED BIOSPHERE RESERVEs IN INDIA
UNESCO world network of biosphere reserves in India under the Man and Biosphere Reserve Programme of UNESCO are as follows:-
- Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, 2000
- Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, 2001
- Sunderban Biosphere Reserve, 2001
- Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, 2004
- Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, 2009
- Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve, 2009
- Similipal Biosphere Reserve, 2009
- Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve, 2012
- Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, 2013
- Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve, 2016
- Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, 2018
18 BIOSPHERE RESERVEs IN INDIA AT A GLANCE
1. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
* Located at the trijunction of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka
* First to be included in the UNESCO-MAB Program.
* Home of two endangered species- lion-tailed macaque and Nilgiri tahr
2. Gulf of Mannar
* Located near Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu and along Ramsetu Island chain.
* Included in UNESCO-MAB Program.
* Coral species present here.
* Home of sea turtles, shark, dugongs and dolphins.
3. Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve
* Located at the coast of West Bengal.
* Included in UNESCO-MAB Program.
* It is a delta formed by the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna Rivers in the Bay of Bengal.
* Known for Mangroves, Bengal Tiger, Chital Deer, Rhesus macaque.
4. Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve
* Located in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.
* Included in UNESCO-MAB Program.
* The fauna found are Himalayan musk deer, Himalayan tahr, Snow Leopard.
5. Nokrek Biosphere Reserve
* Located in Western Garo Hills district, Meghalaya.
* Included in UNESCO-MAB Program.
* Home to Red Panda, Asian Elephant.
6. Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve
* Located in Satpura Range across Hoshangabad, Betul, and Chhindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh.
* Included in UNESCO-MAB Program.
* The fauna found are Tigers, Leopard, Wild bear, Gaur, Chital deer, Muntjac deer, Sambar deer.
7. Simlipal Biosphere Reserve
* Located in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.
* Included in UNESCO-MAB Program.
* Home to Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, gaur, and chausingha.
* Joranda and Barehipani Falls located in it.
8. Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve
* Located along Anuppur, Dindori of Madhya Pradesh and Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh.
* Included in UNESCO-MAB Program.
* Maikal hill, Vindhya and Satpura lies within it.
* Source of Narmada, Johilla and Son rivers.
* Plateau is of bauxite rocks.
* Famous fauna is Chitals, Sambars, Barking deers.
9. Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve
* Located in UT of Andaman & Nicobar.
* Included in UNESCO-MAB Program.
10. Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve
* Located at border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
* Included in UNESCO-MAB Program.
* Native of Kanikaran tribals.
11. Khangchendzonga National Park
* Located in trijunction of India, China and Nepal in Sikkim.
* Latest to be Included UNESCO-MAB Program in 2018.
* Third-highest peak of the world located here.
* Home to Red Panda, Snow Leopard, Himalayan tahr, Civet, Sloth bear.
12. Manas Biosphere Reserve
* Located in Assam
* Endangered animals found are Hispid hare, Golden langur and Pygmy hog.
* Famous for Indian rhinoceros.
13. Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve
* Located in Arunachal Pradesh.
14. Great Rann of Kutch
* Located at India and Pakistan border in Gujrat.
* The famous animal is an Indian wild ass.
15. Cold Desert
* Located in Himachal Pradesh.
* Includes Pin Valley National Park and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary.
16. Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve
* Located in Assam.
* Bounded by Brahmaputra Lohit and Dibru rivers.
* Fauna includes Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, Clouded leopard.
17. Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve
* Located in the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh.
* Large reserves of red sandalwood.
18. Panna Biosphere Reserve
* Located in Madhya Pradesh.
* Tiger reserve present in it.