Table of Contents
List of Biosphere Reserves in India
Biosphere reserves are an important topic for UPSC Prelims 2022. Every year aspirants can find questions based on biosphere reserves in UPSC CSE Prelims. The good thing about these types of questions is that these are ‘either you know or you don’t’ type questions. If you mark it, it is highly probable that you will mark it right. We highly recommend you to go through this list a few times, to have a good grasp on this topic.
Before going to the list, let us first understand
What are biosphere reserves?
- Biosphere Reserve (BR) is an international designation by UNESCO for representative parts of natural and cultural landscapes extending over large area of terrestrial or coastal/marine ecosystems or a combination of terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
- BRs are designated to deal with one of the most important questions of reconciling the conservation of biodiversity, the quest for economic and social development and maintenance of associated cultural values.
- BRs are thus special environments for both people and the nature and are living examples of how human beings and nature can co-exist while respecting each other’s’ needs.
- Below is the list of all the biosphere reserves in India.
Biosphere reserves in India
Sl. No. | Name of Biosphere Reserve | Established in | Location (States) |
1 | Nilgiri | 1986 | Part of Wayanad, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Madumalai, Nilambur, Silent Valley, and Siruvani hills (Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka). |
2 | Nanda Devi | 1988 | Part of Chamoli, Pithoragarh, and Bageshwar districts (Uttarakhand). |
3 | Nokrek | 1988 | Part of Garo Hills (Meghalaya). |
4 | Great Nicobar | 1989 | Southernmost islands of Andaman And Nicobar (A&N Islands). |
5 | Gulf of Mannar | 1989 | The Indian part of the Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka (Tamil Nadu). |
6 | Manas | 1989 | Part of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamprup, and Darang districts (Assam). |
7 | Sunderbans | 1989 | Part of the delta of Ganges and Brahmaputra river system
(West Bengal). |
8 | Simlipal | 1994 | Part of the Mayurbhanj district (Orissa). |
9 | Dibru-Saikhowa | 1997 | Part of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia Districts (Assam). |
10 | Dehang-Dibang | 1998 | Part of Siang and Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh. |
11 | Pachmarhi | 1999 | Parts of Betul, Hoshangabad, and Chindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh. |
12 | Khangchendzonga | 2000 | Parts of Khangchendzonga hills and Sikkim. |
13 | Agasthyamalai | 2001 | Neyyar, Peppara, and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries and their adjoining areas in Kerala. |
14 | Achanakamar – Amarkantak | 2005 | Covers parts of Anupur and Dindori districts of M.P. and parts of Bilaspur districts of Chhattishgarh State. |
15 | Kachchh | 2008 | Part of Kachchh, Rajkot, Surendra Nagar, and Patan Civil Districts of Gujarat State. |
16 | Cold Desert | 2009 | Pin Valley National Park and surroundings; Chandratal and Sarchu & Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh. |
17 | Seshachalam Hills | 2010 | Seshachalam Hill Ranges covering parts of Chittoor and Kadapa districts of Andhra Pradesh. |
18 | Panna | 2011 | Part of Panna and Chhattarpur districts in Madhya Pradesh. |
Biosphere Reserves under Man and Biosphere Reserve Programme of UNESCO
- The UNESCO has introduced the designation ‘Biosphere Reserve’ for natural areas to minimize conflict between development and conservation.
- BRs are nominated by national government which meet a minimal set of criteria and adhere to minimal set of conditions for inclusion in the world network of Biosphere reserves under the Man and Biosphere Reserve Programme of UNESCO.
- Globally, there are 686 biosphere reserves in 122 countries, including 20 transboundary sites.
Biosphere Reserves under MAB
India has 12 internationally recognised BRs. They are as follows.
Sl. No. | YEAR | NAME | STATES |
1 | 2000 | Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve | Tamil Nadu |
2 | 2001 | Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve | Tamil Nadu |
3 | 2001 | Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve | West Bengal |
4 | 2004 | Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve | Uttarakhand |
5 | 2009 | Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve | Madhya Pradesh |
6 | 2009 | Nokrek Biosphere Reserve | Meghalaya |
7 | 2009 | Simlipal Biosphere Reserve | Odisha |
8 | 2012 | Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve | Chhattisgarh |
9 | 2013 | Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve | Great Nicobar |
10 | 2016 | Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve | Kerala and Tamil Nadu |
11 | 2018 | Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve | Part of North and West Sikkim districts |
12 | 2020 | Panna Biosphere Reserve | Madhya Pradesh |
FAQs
Q. Which was the first Biosphere Reserve in India?
Ans. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
Q. Which Biosphere Reserve recently got the UNESCO status?
Ans. Panna Biosphere Reserve
Q. How many Biosphere Reserves are there in India?
Ans. India has a total of 18 Biosphere Reserves.
Q. Which protected areas forms Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve?
Ans. Neyyar, Peppara, and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries.
Q. Where is Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve located?
Ans. Madhya Pradesh
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