PRESENTATION ON
Biosphere reserves in
India
A Guide by RAJNISH
Contents
Introduction
Criteria for Designation of Biosphere Reserve
List of biosphere reserves India
Structure for biosphere reserves
Potential sites
References
External links
1. Intro
● Biosphere Reserve (BR) is an international designation by
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Org
anization (UNESCO)
for representative parts of natural and cultural landscapes
extending over large areas of terrestrial or coastal/marine
ecosystems or a combination of both.
● Biosphere Reserves tries to balance economic and social
development and maintenance of associated cultural values
along with the preservation of nature.
● Biosphere Reserves are thus special environments for both
people and nature and are living examples of how human
beings and nature can co-exist while respecting each
others’ needs.
`2. Criteria for Designation of Biosphere Reserve
A site must contain a protected and minimally
disturbed core area of value of nature conservation.
Core area must be a bio-geographical unit and
should be large enough to sustain a viable populations
representing all trophic levels.
The involvement of local communities and use of
their knowledge in biodiversity preservation. Knowledge...
Areas potential for preservation of traditional tribal or
Man and the Biosphere
rural modes of living for harmonious use of the Programme (MAB) is an
environment. intergovernmental scientific
programme, launched in
1971 by UNESCO, that aims
to establish a scientific basis
for the improvement of
relationships between people
and their environments.
3. List of Biospheres reserve in india
Nilgiri Biosphere Pachmarhi Biosphere Seshachalam Hills
Nanda Devi Biosphere Achanakmar-Amarkamntak Panna
Gulf of Manner Great Rann of Kutch
Nokrek Cold Desert REMEMBER…….
The Indian government has established 18
biosphere reserves (categories roughly
Sundarbans Khangchendzonga correspondingly to IUCN Category V
Protected areas) to protect larger areas of
natural habitat than a typical national park or
Manas Agasthyamalai Biosphere animal sanctuary, and that often include one
or more national parks or preserves, along
with buffer zones that are open to some
Simlipal Great Nicobar 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
Dihang-Dibang Dibru-Saikhowa life.
4. Structure of Biosphere reserve
Core Areas:
It is the most protected area of a biosphere reserve. It may contain endemic plants and animals.
They conserve the wild relatives of economic species and also represent important genetic reservoirs having
exceptional scientific interest.
A core zone is a protected region, like a National Park or Sanctuary/protected/regulated mostly under the Wildlife
(Protection) Act, 1972. It is kept free from human interference.
Buffer Zone:
The buffer zone surrounds the core zone and its activities are managed in this area in the ways that help in the
protection of the core zone in its natural condition.
It includes restoration, limited tourism, fishing, grazing, etc. which are permitted to reduce its effect on the core zone.
Research and educational activities are to be encouraged.
Transition Zone:
It is the outermost part of the biosphere reserve. It is the zone of cooperation where human ventures and
conservation are done in harmony.
It includes settlements, croplands, managed forests and areas for intensive recreation and other economic uses
characteristics of the region.
5. Area Distribution
Area(sq KM) Percentage of
Class
Forest Cover Geographical area
Very dense forest 99,278 3.02
Moderately Dense forest 3,08,472 9.38
3,04,499 9.26
Open Forest
Total Forest Cover* 7,12,249 21.67
Tree Cover 95,027 2.89 Remember…
Tree Forest and Tree Cover 8,07,276 24.56
Includes 4,975 sqkm
Scrub 46,297 1.41 under Mangrove
Cover
Non-Forest# 25,28,923 76.92
Total Geographical Area 32,87,469 100.00
6. Area Distribution
100,000
90,000
80,000
70,000
Very dense forest
60,000
Moderately Dense forest
Open Forest
50,000
Total Forest Cover*
40,000 Tree Cover
Tree Forest and Tree Cover
30,000 Scrub
Very dense forest
20,000
Scrub
10,000
Tree Cover
0
Open Forest
km %
sq in
ea ea Very dense forest
Ar ar
o
7. Potential sites
The following is a list of potential sites for Biosphere Reserves as selected by Ministry of Forests and
The following is a list of potential sites for Biosphere Reserves as selected by Ministry of Forests and
Environment.
Environment……….
● Abujmarh, Chhattisgarh
Abujmarh, Chhattisgarh
● Andaman and Nicobar, North Islands
Andaman and Nicobar, North Islands
● Chintapalli, Visakhapatnam Andhra Pradesh
Chintapalli, Visakhapatnam Andhra Pradesh
● Kanha, Madhya Pradesh
Kanha, Madhya Pradesh
● Kovalam, Kerala
Kovalam, Kerala
● Lakshadweep Islands, Lakshadweep
Lakshadweep Islands, Lakshadweep
● Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat
Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat
● Phawngpui (Blue Mountain), Mizoram
Phawngpui (Blue Mountain), Mizoram
● Namdapha, Arunachal Pradesh
Namdapha, Arunachal Pradesh
● Singhbhum, Jharkhand
Singhbhum, Jharkhand
● Tawang and West Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh
Tawang and West Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh
● Thar Desert, Rajasthan
Thar Desert, Rajasthan
● Tadoba National Park and Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Maharashtra
Tadoba National Park and Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Maharashtra
8. References
"Biosphere Reserves in India". Ministry of Environment,
Forest and Climate Change. 2019. Retrieved 5 February
2020.
20 new Biosphere Reserves added to UNESCO's Man an
d the Biosphere (MAB) Programme"
. UNESCO. 11 July 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
Man and the Biosphere Programme". UNESCO.
Retrieved 5 February 2020.
20 sites added to UNESCO's World Network of Biospher
e Reserves"
. UNESCO. 19 March 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
Mohan, Vishwa (8 August 2018).
"Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve gets entry into the U
NESCO's
gloal list". The Economic Times (India). Retrieved 5
February 2020.
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.
9. External Links
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