Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 23-August, 2010 16:1 IST
Status of Designated Biosphere Reserves in Different Bio-Geographic Regions of India

            Biosphere Reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems which are internationally recognized  within the framework of UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere(MAB) programme. These Reserves are required to meet a minimal set of criteria and adhere to a minimal set of conditions before being admitted to the World Network  of Biosphere Reserves designated by UNESCO. The world’s major ecosystem types and landscapes are represented in this network, which is devoted to conserving biological diversity, promoting research and monitoring as well as seeking to provide models of sustainable development in the service of human kind.

                India has been divided into ten Bio geographic zones namely i) Trans Himalayan, ii) Himalayan, iii) Indian Desert, iv) semi-Arid ,v) Western Ghats, vi)  Deccan Penninsula, vii)  Gangetic Plain, viii) North- East  India, ix) Islands and x) coasts and these zones together consist of twenty five Bio-geographic  provinces. The aim is to designate one representative site as Biosphere Reserve in each Bio-geographic province for long term conservation.          

                These Biosphere Reserve are rich in biological and cultural diversity and encompass  unique features of exceptionally pristine nature. The goal is to facilitate conservation  of representative landscapes and terrier immense biological diversity and cultural heritage, foster economic and human development which is culturally and ecologically sustainable and to provide support fro research, monitoring education and information exchange. The scheme is a pioneering effort at pursuing the increasingly difficult yet urgent task conserving ecological diversity under monitoring   pressures. India has fifteen biosphere reserves.

 

Bio- geographic Region  

Name of the  designated Biosphere Reserve

Status/Remarks

Trans Himalayan

 

-

-

Himalayan

1. Nanda Devi  (Uttarakhand)

 

 

2.  Kanchanjunga, (Sikkim)

 

 

 

3. Dehang Debang   (Arunachal Pradesh)

 

Parts of Chamoli, Pithoragarh & Almora Districts covering an area of 5860.69 sq.kms,   designated as BR on 16.1.88. Recognized on world network in November, 2004. 

Parts of North and West Sikkim covering an area of 2619.92 sq. km designed as BR on 7.2.2000.  Proposal forwarded for World network recognition.

 

Parts of Siang and Debang valley covering an

area of 5111.5 sq. km, designated as BR on 2.9.98. 

 

Indian Desert

-

-

Semi-Arid

4. Kachchh (Gujarat)

Parts of Kachchh, Rajkot, Surendranagar and Patan districts (Gujarat) covering an area of 12,454 sq. kms, designated as 15th Biosphere Reserve on 29th January, 2008.  

Western Ghats

5. Nilgiri (Tamil Nadu,  Kerala & Karnataka)

 

 

 

 

6. Agasthyamalai (Tamil   Nadu & Kerala)

Parts of Wynad, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Madumalai, Nilambur, Silent Valley and Siruvani hills (Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka) covering an area of 5520 sq.kms,  designated  as BR on 01.09.89 and  recognized  on  World Network    on 10th  November, 2000.

Parts of Thirunelveli and Kanyakumari Districts in Tamil Nadu and Thiruvanthapuram, Kollam and Pathanmthitta districts in Kerala covering an area of 3500.36 sq.kms, designated as BR on 12.11.01.

Deccan Peninsula

7. Similipal (Orissa)

 

 

 

8.Achanakmar Amarkantak  (Madhya Pradesh & Chattisgarh)

9. Pachmarhi (M.P)

 

 

 

Parts of Mayurbhanj district (Orissa) covering an area of 4374 sq. kms , designated as BR on 21.6.94. Proposal forwarded for World network recognition.

Parts of Anuppur and Dindori Distt. of M.P. and Bilaspur Distt. of Chattisgarh covering an area of 3835. 51 sq. kms, designated as BR  on 30.3.05.

Parts of Betul, Hoshangabad and Chhindwara, Distt.of Madhya Pradesh covering an area of 4926.28 sq.kms, designated as BR on 3.3.99. Proposal forwarded for recognition on World network.

Gangetic Plain

-

-

North East India

Manas (Assam)

 

 

 

 

 

11. Dibrusaikhova (Assam)

 

 

12. Nokrek ( Meghalaya)

 

 

Parts of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamprup and Darang Districts covering an area of 2837 Sq. kms, designated  as BR on 14.3.89.  Proposal forwarded for recognition on World network

 

Parts of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts covering an area of 765 sq. kms, designated  as BR  on 28.7.97

Parts of Garo Hills covering an area of 820Sq. Kms, designated  as BR on 1.9.88.  Proposal forwarded for recognition on World network

Islands

13.Great Nicobar ( A&N)

 

 

 

Southern most island of Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) covering an area of 885 sq. kms, designated as BR on 6.1.89

 

Coasts

14. Gulf of Mannar

      (Tamil Nadu)

 

 

 

15. Sunderbans

     (West Bengal)

Indian parts of Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka (Tamil Nadu) covering an area of 10500 sq.kms., designated  as BR on 18.02.89 and Recognized on world Network  in November, 2001.  

 

Parts of delta of Ganges & Brahamaputra river system (West Bengal) covering an area of 9630 sq. kms, designated as BR on 29.3.89 and recognized  on World Network on 10th November, 2001.

KP

 

 

 

 


(Release ID :65174)