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Biosphere reserves of India#Potential sites

{{Short description|National biosphere reserves of India}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}

{{Wildlife of India}}

There are 18 biosphere reserves in India.

{{cite web |url=http://moef.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/biosphere.pdf |title=Biosphere Reserves in India |publisher=Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change |date=2019 |access-date=5 February 2020}} They protect larger areas of natural habitat than a typical national park or animal sanctuary, and often include one or more national parks or reserves, along with buffer zones that are open to some 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 life. In total there are 18 biosphere reserves in India.

World network

Twelve of the eighteen biosphere reserves are a part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, based on the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme list.{{cite web |url=http://www.unesco.org/mab/BRs/AsiaBRlist.shtml#I |title=Man and the Biosphere Programme |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=5 February 2020}}

class="wikitable sortable"
#NameStates/ UTYear
1

| Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka2000
2

| Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve

Tamil Nadu2001
3

| Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve

West Bengal2001
4

| Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve

Uttarakhand2004
5

| Nokrek Biosphere Reserve

Meghalaya2009
6

| Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve

Madhya Pradesh2009
7

| Simlipal Biosphere Reserve

Odisha2009
8

| Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve

Andaman & Nicobar Islands2013
9

| Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve

Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh2012{{cite web |url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/rio-20/single-view/news/20_new_biosphere_reserves_added_to_unescos_man_and_the_bi/ |title=20 new Biosphere Reserves added to UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme |publisher=UNESCO |date=11 July 2012 |access-date=5 February 2020}}
10

| Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve

Kerala and Tamil Nadu2016{{cite web |url=https://en.unesco.org/news/20-sites-added-unesco-s-world-network-biosphere-reserves |title=20 sites added to UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves |publisher=UNESCO |date=19 March 2016 |access-date=5 February 2020}}
11

| Khangchendzonga National Park

Sikkim2018{{cite news |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/environment/the-good-earth/kanchenjunga-biosphere-reserve-gets-entry-into-the-unescos-global-list/articleshow/65327646.cms |title=Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve gets entry into the UNESCO's global list |newspaper=The Economic Times (India) |first=Vishwa |last=Mohan |date=8 August 2018 |access-date=5 February 2020}}
12

| Panna Biosphere Reserve

Madhya Pradesh2020{{cite web |title=Panna Biosphere Reserve, India |url=https://en.unesco.org/biosphere/aspac/panna |website=UNESCO |access-date=28 January 2022 |language=en |date=12 November 2020}}

List of biosphere reserves in India

class="sortable wikitable"

|+ Biosphere reserves of India[https://moef.gov.in/en/biosphere-reserves/ Biosphere Reserves] Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.

YearNameLocationStateTypeKey faunaArea (km2)
1

|1986

Nilgiri Biosphere ReservePart of Waynad, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Mudumalai, Mukurthi, Sathyamangalam, Nilambur, Silent ValleyKarnataka, Tamil Nadu and KeralaWestern GhatsNilgiri tahr, tiger, Asian elephant lion-tailed macaquealign="right" | 5520
2

|1988

Nanda Devi Biosphere ReserveParts of Chamoli District, Pithoragarh District & Bageshwar DistrictUttarakhandWestern HimalayasSnow leopard, Himalayan black bearalign="right" | 5860
3

|1988

NokrekIn West Garo HillsMeghalayaEastern hillsRed pandaalign="right" | 820.00 
4

|1989

Gulf of MannarIndian part of Gulf of Mannar extending from Rameswaram island in the north to Kanyakumari in the south of Tamil Nadu and Sri LankaTamil NaduCoastsDugongalign="right" | 10500
5

|1989

SundarbansPart of delta of Ganges and Brahmaputra river systemWest BengalGangetic DeltaRoyal Bengal tigeralign="right" | 9630
6

|1989

ManasPart of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamrup and Darrang DistrictsAssamEastern HillsAsiatic elephant, tiger, Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur, pygmy hogalign="right" | 2837
7

|1989

Great Nicobar Biosphere ReserveSouthernmost of the Andaman and Nicobar IslandsAndaman and Nicobar IslandsIslandsSaltwater crocodilealign="right" | 885
8

|1994

SimlipalPart of Mayurbhanj districtOdishaDeccan PeninsulaGaur, royal Bengal tiger, Asian elephantalign="right" | 4374
9

|1998

Dihang-DibangPart of Siang and Dibang ValleyArunachal PradeshEastern HimalayaMishmi takin, musk deeralign="right" | 5112
10

|1997

Dibru-SaikhowaPart of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districtsAssamEastern HillsWhite-winged wood duck, water buffalo, black-breasted parrotbill, tiger, capped languralign="right" | 765
11

|1999

Pachmarhi Biosphere ReserveParts of Betul District, Hoshangabad District and Chhindwara DistrictMadhya PradeshSemi-AridGiant squirrel, flying squirrelalign="right" | 4981.72
12

|2000

Khangchendzonga National ParkParts of KangchenjungaSikkimEast HimalayasSnow leopard, red pandaalign="right" | 2620
13

|2001

Agasthyamalai Biosphere ReserveNeyyar, Peppara and Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve and their adjoining areasKerala, Tamil NaduWestern GhatsNilgiri tahr, Bengal tiger, Asian elephantalign="right" | 3500.08
14

|2005

Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere ReservePart of Annupur, Dindori and Bilaspur districtsMadhya Pradesh, ChhattisgarhMaikal HillsFour-horned antelope, Indian wild dog, sarus crane, white-rumped vulture, sacred grove bush frogalign="right" | 3835
15

|2008

Great Rann of KutchPart of Kutch, Morbi, Surendranagar and Patan districts; the largest biosphere reserve in India.GujaratDesertIndian wild assalign="right" | 12454
16

|2009

Cold DesertPin Valley National Park and surroundings; Chandratal and Sarchu & Kibber Wildlife SanctuaryHimachal PradeshWestern HimalayasSnow leopardalign="right" | 7770
17

|2010

Seshachalam Hills biosphereSeshachalam Hill Ranges covering parts of Chittoor and Kadapa districtsAndhra Pradesh

|Eastern Hills

Slender lorisalign="right" | 4755.997{{cite web |url=http://www.wiienvis.nic.in/Database/BiosphereReserves_8225.aspx |title=Biosphere Reserves in India (as on Dec, 2014) |date=December 2014 |access-date=23 December 2021}}
18

|2011{{Cite web |title=The Environmental Planning & Coordination Organisation |url=https://epco.mp.gov.in/panna-bio-reserves |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=epco.mp.gov.in}}

PannaPart of Panna and Chhattarpur districts in Madhya PradeshMadhya Pradesh

|Moist deciduous forest

|Bengal tiger, Chinkara, Nilgai, Sambhar sambar deer, and Sloth bear

| align="right" | 2998.98{{cite news |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/travelnews/story/70818/panna-tiger-reserve-gets-unescos-biosphere-reserve-status |title=Panna Tiger Reserve gets UNESCO's 'Biosphere Reserve' Status |publisher=Outlook India |date=7 November 2020 |access-date=23 December 2021}}

Key fauna

class="wikitable" style="vertical-align:bottom;"
style="font-weight:bold;"

! Name

! Key fauna

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

| Lion Tailed Macaque (EN), Nilgiri Tahr (EN), Malabar Giant Squirrel (LC), Nilgiri Langur (VU)

Nanda Devi

| Snow Leopard (VU), Musk Deer (EN), Bharal Or Blue Sheep (LC)

Nokrek

| Red Panda (EN), Hoolock Gibbons (EN), Red Giant Flying Squirrel (LC)

Great Nicobar

| Dugong (VU), Saltwater Crocodile (LC)

Gulf of Mannar

| Dugong (VU), Olive Ridley turtles (VU)

Manas

| Assam Roofed Turtle (EN), Hispid Hare (EN), Golden Langur (EN), Pygmy Hog (EN), Wild Water Buffalo (EN), Bengal florican (CR)

Sunderbans

| Royal Bengal Tiger (EN)

Simlipal

| Royal Bengal Tigers, Wild Elephants (EN), Gaurs (VU – Indian Bison), Chausingha (VU)

Dibru-Saikhowa

| Bengal Tiger, Clouded Leopard (VU), Gangetic Dolphin (EN)

Dehang-Dibang

| Takin (VU), Red Panda (EN)

Pachmarhi

| Tiger, Gaur, Indian Giant Flying Squirrels (LC)

Khangchendzonga

| Red Panda (EN), Snow Leopard (VU), Musk Deer (EN), Great Tibetan Sheep (Argali – NT)

Agasthyamalai

| Nilgiri Tahr (EN)

Achanakamar - Amarkantak

| Four Horned Antelope (Chausingha (VU)), Indian Wild Dog (VU)

Great Rann of Kutch (Kachchh)

| Great Indian Bustard (CR), Indian Wild Ass (NT)

Cold Desert

| Snow Leopard (VU), Himalayan Ibex (also referred to as Siberian Ibex – LC)

Seshachalam Hills

| Red Sanders (NT), Golden Gecko (LC – Endemic To Tirumala Hills)

Panna

| Tiger (EN), Chital (LC), Chinkara (LC), Sambar (VU)

Potential sites

The following is a list of potential sites for Biosphere Reserves as selected by Ministry of Forests and Environment:{{cite web |title=Status of Biosphere reserves in India |url=http://envfor.nic.in/news/janmar08/environews_jan_mar08.pdf |date=January–March 2008|page=9 |publisher=ENVIRO NEWS, Ministry of Environment and Forests |volume=14|access-date=1 June 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130120033254/http://envfor.nic.in/news/janmar08/environews_jan_mar08.pdf |archive-date = 20 January 2013}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category|Biosphere reserves in India}}

  • {{webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20040509084830/http://www.wii.gov.in/nwdc/biosphere.htm |title=Wildlife Institute of India webpage on India's Biosphere Reserves |date=9 May 2004}}
  • {{webarchive |url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20011125100208/http%3A//www.wcmc.org.uk/igcmc/parks/un93.html |title=United Nations List of National Parks and Protected Areas: India (1993) |date=25 November 2001}}
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20060720181057/http://www.envfor.nic.in/report/0102/chap03.html Ministry of Environment and Forests]

{{India topics}}

{{Geography of India}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Biosphere Reserves Of India}}

Category:Nature conservation in India

Category:Protected areas of India