What are Biosphere Reserves?
Biosphere reserves are ‘learning places for sustainable development’. They are sites for testing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and managing changes and interactions between social and ecological systems, including conflict prevention and management of biodiversity. Biosphere reserves include terrestrial, marine and coastal ecosystems. Each site promotes solutions reconciling the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use.
Biosphere Reserves in India: May 2023
Panna Biosphere Reserve
: Panna Biosphere Reserve was established in 2021 in the state of Madhya Pradesh. It covers an area of 2,505 square kilometers and is located in the Panna and Chhatarpur districts. The reserve is known for its rich biodiversity and is home to a variety of wildlife, including tigers, leopards, and several species of deer.
Sur Sarovar Biosphere Reserve
: Sur Sarovar Biosphere Reserve was established in 2020 in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It covers an area of 29.53 square kilometers and is located near the city of Agra. The reserve is known for its wetlands, which provide habitat for a variety of waterbirds, including the Sarus crane.
Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve
: Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve was established in 2018 in the state of Sikkim. It covers an area of 2,619 square kilometers and is located in the Khangchendzonga mountain range, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The reserve is known for its high altitude ecosystems and is home to several endangered species, including the snow leopard and the red panda.
Kutch Biosphere Reserve
: Kutch Biosphere Reserve was established in 2018 in the state of Gujarat. It covers an area of 12,454 square kilometers and is located in the Kutch district. The reserve is known for its unique ecosystem, which includes salt flats, marshes, and grasslands, and is home to a variety of wildlife, including the Indian wild ass and several species of migratory birds.
Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve
: Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve was established in 2016 in the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It covers an area of 3,500 square kilometers and is located in the Western Ghats. The reserve is known for its rich biodiversity and is home to several endemic species, including the Nilgiri tahr and the lion-tailed macaque.
World Network of Biosphere Reserves
- 12 of the 18 biosphere reserves are a part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, based on the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme list
- Read More about them on Wilipedia