unesco biosphere reserve

UNESCO Biosphere

Reserve

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UNESCO Biosphere

Reserve

UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) ProgrammeThe MAB programme is an intergovernmental scientific programme that aims to establish a

scientific basis for enhancing the relationship between people and their environments.

It combines the natural and social sciences with a view to improving human livelihoods and

safeguarding natural and managed ecosystems, thus promoting innovative approaches to

economic development that are socially and culturally appropriate and environmentally

sustainable.

The MAB programme is an intergovernmental scientific programme that aims to establish a

scientific basis for enhancing the relationship between people and their environments.

Vision of the ProgrammeVISION is a world where people are conscious of their common future and their interactions with

the planet, and act collectively and responsibly to build thriving societies in harmony within the

biosphere.

The MAB programme and its World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) serve this vision

through biosphere reserves and beyond.

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reserve

MISSION for the period 2015–2025 is to:Develop and strengthen models of sustainable development through the WNBR;

Communicate experiences and lessons learned, and facilitate the global diffusion and

application of these models;

Support evaluation and high-quality management of biosphere reserves, strategies and policies

for sustainable development and planning, and accountable and resilient institutions;

Help Member States and stakeholders to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by sharing

experiences and lessons learned related to exploring and testing policies, technologies and

innovations for the sustainable management of biodiversity and natural resources and

mitigation and adaptation to climate change.


How does MAB Work?

UNESCO's intergovernmental structure

provides MAB with a framework to help

national governments support the planning

and implementation of research and

training programmes with technical

assistance and scientific advice.

Participating countries establish MAB

National Committees that ensure maximum

national participation in the international

programme, defining and implementing

each country's activities.

MAB currently operates through 158

National Committees established among

the 195 Members States and nine Associate

Members States of UNESCO.

The agenda of the MAB programme is

defined by its main governing body, the

International Coordinating Council. The

MAB Council consists of 34 Member States

elected by UNESCO's General Conference.


The MAB Secretariat is based at UNESCO's

Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences,

and works closely with the different field

offices around the world to coordinate the

work of the MAB programme at national and

regional levels. Its staff members draw on

expertise in many and varied disciplines.

MAB is funded through the regular budget of

UNESCO and mobilizes funds-in-trust

granted by Member States, bilateral and

multilateral sources, and extra-budgetary

funds provided by countries, the private

sector and private institutions.

MAB-related activities are nationally

financed. The Programme can grant seed

funding to assist countries in developing

projects and/or to secure appropriate

partnership contributions.

The Council elects a chair and five vice-

chairpersons from each of UNESCO's

geopolitical regions, one of which functions

as a rapporteur. These constitute the MAB

Bureau.

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.

They are places that provide local solutions to global challenges. Biosphere reserves include

terrestrial, marine and coastal ecosystems. Each site promotes solutions reconciling the

conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use.

In order to assist the stakeholders with the designation process, as well as periodic reviews,

Technical Guidelines are being progressively created by the MAB International Co-ordinating

Council.

Biosphere reserves are nominated by national governments and remain under the sovereign

jurisdiction of the states where they are located. Biosphere Reserves are designated under the

intergovernmental MAB Programme by the Director-General of UNESCO following the decisions

of the MAB International Coordinating Council (MAB ICC). Their status is internationally

recognized. Member States can submit sites through the designation process.

Biosphere Reserves involve local communities and all interested stakeholders in planning and

management. They integrate three main "functions":

Conservation of biodiversity and cultural diversity

Economic development that is socio-culturally and environmentally sustainable

Logistic support, underpinning development through research, monitoring, education and

training


Core AreasIt comprises a strictly protected zone that contributes to the conservation of landscapes,

ecosystems, species and genetic variation

Buffer ZonesIt surrounds or adjoins the core area(s), and is used for activities compatible with sound

ecological practices that can reinforce scientific research, monitoring, training and education.

Transition AreaThe transition area is where communities foster socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable

economic and human activities.

World Network of Biosphere ReservesThe World Network of Biosphere Reserves of the MAB Programme consists of a dynamic and

interactive network of sites of excellence.

It fosters the harmonious integration of people and nature for sustainable development through

participatory dialogue; knowledge sharing; poverty reduction and human well-being

improvements; respect for cultural values and society's ability to cope with change - thus

contributing to the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Accordingly, the

Network is one of the main international tools to develop and implement sustainable

development approaches in a wide array of contexts.

The World Network of Biosphere Reserves promotes North-South and South-South collaboration

and represents a unique tool for international co-operation through sharing knowledge,

exchanging experiences, building capacity and promoting best practices.

Biosphere Reserve recognized by UNESCO


Name : Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

States/ UT : Tamil Nadu, Kerala and KarnatakaYEAR

2000

Name : Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve

States/ UT : Tamil Nadu YEAR

2001

Name : Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve

States/ UT : West BengalYEAR

2001

Name : Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve

States/ UT : Uttarakhand YEAR

2004

Name : Nokrek Biosphere Reserve

States/ UT : MeghalayaYEAR

2009


Name : Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve

States/ UT : Madhya PradeshYEAR

2009

Name : Simlipal Biosphere Reserve

States/ UT : Odisha YEAR

2009

YEAR

2012

Name : Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve

States/ UT : Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh

YEAR

2013

Name : Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve

States/ UT : Kerala and Tamil NaduYEAR

2016

Name : Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve

States/ UT : Andaman & Nicobar Islands

YEAR

2018

Name : Khangchendzonga National Park

States/ UT : Sikkim

Presently, there are 18 noti�ied biosphere reserves in India.


01.09.1986

Nilgiri

Part of Wayanad, Nagarhole,

Bandipur and Madumalai,

Nilambur, Silent Valley and

Siruvani hills (Tamil Nadu,

Kerala and Karnataka).

5520

(Core 1240 & Buffer

4280)

18.01.1988

Nanda Devi

Part of Chamoli,

Pithoragarh, and

Bageshwar districts

(Uttarakhand).

5860.69

(Core 712.12, Buffer

5,148.570) & T. 546.34)

01.09.1988

Nokrek Part of Garo hills

(Meghalaya).

820

(Core 47.48 & Buffer

227.92, Transition

Zone 544.60)

06.01.1989

Great NicobarSouthern most islands of

Andaman And Nicobar

(A&N Islands).

885 (Core 705 & Buffer

180)

18.02.1989

Gulf of Mannar

Indian part of Gulf of

Mannar between India and

Sri Lanka (Tamil Nadu).

10,500 km2

Total Gulf area

(area of Islands 5.55

km2)

01

02

03

04

05

S.No. Name & Date Area (in km2) Location (State)


14.03.1989

Manas

Part of Kokrajhar,

Bongaigaon, Barpeta,

Nalbari, Kamprup and

Darang districts (Assam)

2837

(Core 391 & Buffer

2,446)

29.03.1989

SunderbansPart of delta of Ganges and

Brahamaputra river system

(West Bengal).

9630

(Core 1700 & Buffer

7900)

21.06.1994

Simlipal Part of Mayurbhanj district

(Orissa).

4374

(Core 845, Buffer 2129

& Transition 1400

28.07.1997

Dibru -Saikhowa

Part of Dibrugarh and

Tinsukia Districts (Assam)

765 (Core 340 & Buffer

425)

02.09.1998

Dehang -Dibang

Part of Siang and Dibang

Valley in Arunachal

Pradesh.

5111.50

(Core 4094.80 &Buffer

1016.70)

06

07

08

09

10

03.03.1999

PachmarhiParts of Betul, Hoshangabad

and Chindwara districts of

Madhya Pradesh.

4926

11


07.02.2000

Khangchend-zonga

Parts of Khangchendzonga

hills and Sikkim.

2619.92


835.92)

12.11.2001

Agasthyamalai

Neyyar, Peppara and

Shendurney Wildlife

Sanctuaries and their

adjoining areas in Kerala.

1828

30.3.2005

Achanakamar - Amarkantak

Covers parts of Anupur and

Dindori districts of M.P. and

parts of Bilaspur districts of

Chhattishgarh State.

3835.51


3283.86)

29.01.2008

Kutch

Part of Kachchh, Rajkot,

Surendra Nagar and Patan

Civil Districts of Gujarat

State

12,454 km2

28.08.2009

Cold Desert

Pin Valley National Park and

surroundings; Chandratal

and Sarchu&Kibber Wildlife

Sancturary in Himachal

Pradesh

7770

12

13

14

15

16

20.09.2010

Seshachalam Hills

Seshachalam Hill Ranges

covering parts of Chittoor

and Kadapa districts of

Andhra Pradesh

4755.997

17


25.08.2011

PannaPart of Panna and

Chhattarpur districts in

Madhya Pradesh

2998.98

18

Source: Wildlife Institute of India

Biosphere Reserves in India

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve


The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is an International Biosphere Reserve in the Western Ghats and

Nilgiri Hills ranges of South India. The Nilgiri Sub-Cluster is a part of the Western Ghats, which was

declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2012.

Features

It includes the Aralam, Mudumalai, Mukurthi, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Silent Valley national

parks, as well as the Wayanad and Sathyamangalam wildlife sanctuaries.

About 80% of flowering plants reported from Western Ghats occur in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve is India's first and foremost biosphere reserves with a heritage, rich in

flora and fauna.

The Shola montane temperate grasslands of the reserve are a treasure house of rare plant

species.

Tribal groups like the Badagas, Todas, Kotas, Irullas, Kurumbas, Paniyas, Adiyans, Edanadan

Chettis, Allar, Malayan, etc., are native to the reserve

The reserve extends from the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical moist

forests of the western slopes of the Ghats to the tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests

tropical dry forests on the east slopes

It includes the Bengal tiger, Indian leopard , Black panther , Gaur, Indian elephant, Mongoose,

Malabar giant squirrel, Lion-tailed macaque, nilgiri langur, Gray langur and Nilgiri tahr.

It has largest population of two endangered species- lion-tailed macaque and nilgiri tahr.

Tribal Groups

Flora

Fauna

NilgiriBiosphere Reserve

Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve


The Gulf of Mannar is a large shallow bay forming part of the Laccadive Sea in the Indian Ocean. It

lies between the west coast of Sri Lanka and the southeastern tip of India, in the Coromandel

Coast region.

Features

The chain of low islands and reefs known as Ramsethu, also called Adam's Bridge, which includes

Mannar Island, separates the Gulf of Mannar from Palk Bay, which lies to the north between Sri

Lanka and India.

The dugong (sea cow) is found here.

The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve covers an area of 10,500 km2 of ocean, 21 islands and the

adjoining coastline. The islets and coastal buffer zone include beaches, estuaries, and tropical dry

broadleaf forests, while the marine environments include seaweed communities, sea grass

communities, coral reefs, salt marshes and mangrove forests

Located on the southeastern tip of the subcontinent, the Gulf of Mannar is known to harbour over

3,600 species of flora and fauna, making it one of the richest coastal regions in Asia. 117 hard coral

species have been recorded in the Gulf of Mannar. Sea turtles are frequent visitors to the gulf as

are sharks, dugongs, and dolphins.

Flora

Fauna

Gulf of MannarBiosphere Reserve

Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve


The Sundarbans is a mangrove area in the delta formed by the confluence of the Ganges,

Brahmaputra and Meghna Rivers in the Bay of Bengal. It spans from the Hooghly River in India's

state of West Bengal to the Baleswar River in Bangladesh.

It comprises closed and open mangrove forests, agriculturally used land, mudflats and barren

land, and is intersected by multiple tidal streams and channels. Four protected areas in the

Sundarbans are enlisted as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, viz Sundarbans National Park,

Sundarbans West, Sundarbans South and Sundarbans East Wildlife Sanctuaries

Features

The Sundarbans flora is characterised by the abundance of sundari (Heritiera fomes), gewa

(Excoecaria agallocha), goran (Ceriops decandra) and keora (Sonneratia apetala) all of which

occur prominently throughout the area

The varieties of the forests that exist in Sundarbans include mangrove scrub, littoral forest,

saltwater mixed forest, brackish water mixed forest and swamp forest.

The Sundarbans are an important habitat for the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris).The forest

also provides habitat for small wild cats such as the jungle cat (Felis chaus), fishing cat

(Prionailurus viverrinus), and leopard cat (P. bengalensis)

The forest is also rich in bird life, with 286 species including the endemic brown-winged

kingfishers (Pelargopsis amauroptera) and the globally threatened lesser adjutants (Leptoptilos

javanicus) and masked finfoots (Heliopais personata) and birds of prey such as the ospreys etc.,

Flora

Fauna

Besides the forest, there are extensive areas of brackish water and freshwater marshes,

intertidal mudflats, sandflats, sand dunes with typical dune vegetation, open grassland on sandy

soils and raised areas supporting a variety of terrestrial shrubs and trees


The Sundarbans National Park is home to olive ridley turtle, hawksbill turtle, green turtle, sea

snake, dog-faced water snake, estuarine crocodile

The endangered species that live within the Sundarbans and extinct species that used to be

include the royal Bengal tigers, estuarine crocodile, northern river terrapins (Batagur baska),

olive ridley sea turtles, Gangetic dolphin, ground turtles, hawksbill sea turtles and king crabs

(horse shoe).

SundarbanBiosphere Reserve


Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve

The Nanda Devi National Park or Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, established in 1982 is a national

park situated around the peak of Nanda Devi (7816 m) in the state of Uttarakhand in northern

India. The entire park lies at an elevation of more than 3,500 m above mean sea level.

The National Park is embedded in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, which, in turn, is

encompassed in the buffer zone around the Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks

UNESCO site.

Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, located in the Himalayan Mountains in the northern part of the

country, includes as core areas the Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks, which are

one World Heritage site.

Nanda Devi National Park has remained more or less intact because of its inaccessibility. The

Valley of Flowers National Park is renowned for its meadows of endemic alpine flowers and

outstanding natural beauty.

Together they encompass a unique transition zone between the mountain ranges of the Zanskar

and Great Himalaya.

Features

Common larger mammals are Himalayan musk deer, mainland serow and Himalayan tahr. Goral

are not found within, but in the vicinity of the park. Carnivores are represented by snow leopard,

Himalayan black bear and perhaps also brown bear.

Fauna

Langurs are found within the park, whereas rhesus macaque are known to occur in the

neighboring areas of the park.

Ramani, alpine, prone mosses and lichens are other notable floral species found in Nanda Devi

National Park.

Vegetation is scarce in the inner sanctuary due to the dryness of the conditions.

Fir, birch, rhododendron and juniper are the main flora.

Flora

Nanda DeviBiosphere Reserve


Nokrek Biosphere Reserve

Nokrek National Park, the core area of Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, is a national park located

approximately 2 km from Tura Peak in West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, India.

UNESCO added this National park to its list of Biosphere Reserves in May 2009.Along with

Balpakram national park, Nokrek is a hotspot of biodiversity in Meghalaya

The park had eight species of cats, ranging from tiger to marbled cat but the current status of the

former is uncertain.

There are seven species of primates in Nokrek. The rare stump-tailed macaque is frequently seen

near the main trek to the peak.

The pig-tailed macaque also occurs.Hoolocks are common and their calls could be heard all over

Nokrek

Features

Nokrek has a remnant population of the red panda that has generated curiosity across the world.

Nokrek is also an important habitat of the Asian elephant

Fauna

There is a vast range of plants found in the park. A huge canopy of thick, tall and lush green forests

cover Nokrek and its environment.

The mother germoplasm of Citrus indica (locally known as Memang Narang) have been

discovered by science researchers within Nokrek Range

Flora

Nokrek Biosphere Reserve


Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve

The Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve is a non-use conservation area and biosphere reserve in the

Satpura Range of Madhya Pradesh state in central India.

It includes three wildlife conservation units:

Bori Sanctuary

Pachmarhi Sanctuary

Satpura National Park

The conservation area was created in 1999 by the Indian government. It also contains animals

from the himalayan peaks and from the lower western ghats. UNESCO designated it a biosphere

reserve in 2009.

The Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve is located within areas of Hoshangabad, Betul, and

Chhindwara Districts in Madhya Pradesh state in India.The highest peak is the Dhoopgarh.

Features

Large mammal species include tigers, leopard, wild bear, gaur (Bos gaurus), chital deer (Axis axis),

muntjac deer, sambar deer (Cervus unicolor), and rhesus macaque.

The endemic fauna includes chinkara, nilgai, wild dogs, the Indian wolf, bison, Indian giant

squirrels, and flying squirrels.

Fauna

The forests are dominated by Teak(Tectona grandis). They include the westernmost groves of sal

(Shorea robusta), which is the dominant tree of eastern India's forests. Other endemic vegetation

includes wild mango, silver fern, jamun and arjun

Flora

Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve


Simlipal Biosphere Reserve

Similipal National Park is a national park and a tiger reserve in the Mayurbhanj district in the

Indian state of Odisha covering 2,750 km2 .It is part of the Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve, which

includes three protected areas — Similipal Tiger Reserve, Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary with 191.06

km2 and Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary with 272.75 km2

It lies in the Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests ecoregion, with tropical moist broadleaf

forest and tropical moist deciduous forests with dry deciduous hill forest and high level Sal

forests.

The grasslands and the savannas provide grazing grounds for the herbivores and hiding place to

the carnivores. The forest boasts of innumerable medicinal and aromatic plants, which provide a

source of earnings for the tribal people. Eucalyptus, planted by the British during the 1900s, are

found

Simlipal National Park derives its name from the abundance of red silk cotton trees growing in the

area. It is the 7th largest national park in India.

This protected area is part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves since 2009

Features

Flora

The park is home to Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, gaur, and chausingha

The major mammals include tiger, leopard, Asian elephant, sambar, barking deer, gaur, jungle

cat, wild boar, chausingha (four horned antelope), giant squirrel and common langur

Fauna

SimlipalBiosphere Reserve

Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve


The Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve encompasses a large part (some 85%) of the island of Great

Nicobar, the largest of the Nicobar Islands in the Indian Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar

Islands.

The Nicobars lie in the Bay of Bengal, eastern Indian Ocean, 190 km to the north of the Indonesian

island of Sumatra.

The Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve also incorporates territories and traditional lands of the

indigenous Nicobarese and Shompen peoples

Features

The reserve is home to many species of plants and animals, often endemic to the Andaman and

Nicobars biogeographic region.

Species of fauna in the reserve include: Nicobar scrubfowl (Megapodius nicobariensis, a

megapode bird), the edible-nest swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus), the Nicobar long-tailed

macaque (Macaca fascicularis umbrosa), saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), giant

leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), Malayan box turtle, Nicobar tree shrew,

reticulated python (Python reticulatus) and the giant robber crab (or coconut crab, Birgus latro).

Fauna:

Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve

Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve

The Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve is a biosphere reserve in India that extends

across the states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh,

Features:


The reserve is also the source of three major river systems: the Narmada, the Johilla and the Son

River.

Maikal hill ranges together with Vindhya and Satpura lie within the Achanakmar-Amarkantak

Biosphere Reserve.

The natural vegetation in the Achanakmar-Bilaspur Biosphere Reserve varies across the reserve.

The forest area of the reserve has tropical deciduous vegetation and it can be classified into

Northern Tropical Moist Deciduous and Southern Dry Mixed Deciduous forests.

The reserve is quite rich in plant diversity, having a combination of different climatic and edaphic

conditions at various altitudes. The region provides shelter to various thallophyte, bryophyte,

pteridophyte, gymnosperm, and angiosperm species.

Flora

Achanakmar Sanctuary is home to tigers, panthers, bears, Chitals, sambars, barking deers and

bison (gaur).

Other important fauna species found in the reserve include the blackbuck, chinkara, wolves,

foxes, Jackals, wild boar, monkeys samarth and giant squirrels ananya.

Fauna

Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve


ABR straddles the border of Pathanamthitta, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram Districts in Kerala

and Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari Districts in Tamil Nadu, South India at the southern end of the

Western Ghats.

ABR includes the Indian Ecoregions of tropical wet evergreen forests, South Western Ghats moist

deciduous forests, South Western Ghats montane rain forests and Shola. It is the habitat for 2,000

varieties of medicinal plants, of which at least 50 are rare and endangered species.

Kanikkarans are the Original tribal Settlers in Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve

Flora

Animals include the Bengal Tiger, Asian Elephant, and Nilgiri Tahr. Agastyamalai is also home to

the Kanikaran,one of the oldest surviving ancient tribes in the world.Ecotourism is popular in the

area.

Fauna

Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve

The Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve was Established in 2001

Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve became part of World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2016.

Is also under UNESCO's world list of biosphere reserve

Features

Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve

The vegetation of the park include temperate broadleaf and mixed forests consisting of oaks, fir,

birch, maple, willow.

The vegetation of the park also includes Alpine grasses and shrubs at higher altitudes along with

many medicinal plants and herbs.

Flora

It was recently included in the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme. The park gets its

name from the mountain Kangchenjunga

Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve

Khangchendzonga National Park also Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve is a National Park and a

Biosphere reserve located in Sikkim, India. It was inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites

list in July 2016, becoming the first "Mixed Heritage" site of India.

Features


The park contains many mammal species including musk deer, snow leopard, Himalayan tahr,

dhole, sloth bear, viverrids, Himalayan black bear, red panda, Tibetan wild ass, Himalayan blue

sheep, serow, goral and takin, as well as reptiles including rat snake and Russell's viper.

Fauna

KanchengdzongaBiosphere Reserve

Manas Biosphere Reserve

Manas National Park or Manas Wildlife Sanctuary is a national park, UNESCO Natural World

Heritage site, a Project Tiger reserve, an elephant reserve and a biosphere reserve in Assam,

India.

The Manas river is a major tributary of Brahmaputra River, which passes through the heart of the

national park.

Sub-Himalayan Light Alluvial Semi-Evergreen forests in the northern parts.

East Himalayan mixed Moist and Dry Deciduous forests (the most common type).

Low Alluvial Savanna Woodland, and

Assam Valley Semi-Evergreen Alluvial Grasslands which cover almost 50% of the park

The park is well known for species of rare and endangered wildlife that are not found anywhere

else in the world like the Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur and pygmy hog.

Located in the Himalayan foothills, it is contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan.

The park is known for its rare and endangered endemic wildlife such as the Assam roofed turtle,

hispid hare, golden langur and pygmy hog. Manas is famous for its population of the wild water

buffalo

Features

Fauna

The main vegetation types are:

The fauna of the sanctuary include Indian elephants, Indian rhinoceros, gaurs, Asian water

buffaloes, barasingha, Indian tigers, Indian leopards, clouded leopards, Asian golden cats, dholes

The Manas hosts more than 450 species of birds.It has the largest population of the endangered

Bengal florican to be found anywhere. Other major bird species include great hornbills, jungle

fowls, bulbuls etc.,


ManasBiosphere Reserve


The type of vegetation found in this biosphere reserve can be grouped as 1. Sub-tropical broad

leafed forests, 2. Sub tropical pine forest, 3. Temperate broad leafed forests, 4. Temperate conifer,

5. Sub-alpine woody shrub, 6. Alpine meadow( mountain Tundra), 7. Bamboo brakes, 8.

Grassland.

The habitat in Dihang-Dibang ranges from tropical wet evergreen in the river gorges to

subtropical, temperate, alpine and permanent snow

Tremendous speciation occurs here with over 1500 species of flowering plants expected. Possibly

this site may be the center of origin for some crop plants such as the banana. Many NTFP and

economic plants groups occur here. Medicinal, aromatic, timber, fodder and fuel plants also

occurs.

Flora

The reserve spreads over three districts: Dibang Valley, Upper Siang, and West Siang. It covers

high mountains of Eastern Himalaya and Mishmi Hills. The elevation in the reserve ranges up to

more than 5,000 metres above sea level.

An important fact relating to this Biosphere reserve is that it has natural vegetation stretching in

an unbroken sequence from the tropics to mountain tundra

Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve

Dihang-Dibang or Dehang-Debang is a biosphere reserve constituted in 1998. It is in the Indian

state of Arunachal Pradesh. The Mouling National Park and the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary are

located fully or partly within this biosphere reserve.

Features

The reserve is rich in wildlife. Rare mammals such as Mishmi takin, red goral, musk deer (at least

two sub-species), red panda, Asiatic black bear, occasional tiger and Gongshan muntjac occur,

while among birds there are the rare Sclater's monal and Blyth's tragopan.

Two flying squirrels have been discovered from the vicinity of this reserve

Fauna

Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve


Great Rann of Kutch Biosphere Reserve

The Great Rann of Kutch (or Rann of Kutch seasonal salt marsh) is a salt marsh in the Thar Desert

in the Kutch District of Gujarat, India. It is about 7500 km2 in the area and is reputed to be one of

the largest salt deserts in the world.

This area has been inhabited by the Kutchi people

Features

The Great Rann of Kutch, along with the Little Rann of Kutch and the Banni grasslands on its

southern edge, is situated in the district of Kutch and comprises some 30,000 square kilometres

Wildlife, including the Indian wild ass, shelter on islands of higher ground, called bets, during the

flooding.

In India's summer monsoon, the flat desert of salty clay and mudflats, which average 15 meters

above sea level, fills with standing water. In very wet years, the wetland extends from the Gulf of

Kutch on the west through to the Gulf of Cambay on the east

Various ecologically rich and wildlife conservation areas of the Kutch/Kachchh district can be

visited such as Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, Narayan Sarovar

Sanctuary, Kutch Bustard Sanctuary, Banni Grasslands Reserve and Chari-Dhand Wetland

Conservation Reserve.

There are sandy islets of thorny scrub, forming a wildlife sanctuary and a breeding ground for

some of the largest flocks of greater and lesser flamingos.

Flora

Kutch Biosphere Reserve

Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve


Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve is a biosphere reserve located in the western Himalayas region,

within Himachal Pradesh state in North India. Biosphere reserves are the areas of terrestrial and

coastal ecosystems which promote the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use.

The cold deserts of India are located adjacent to the Himalaya Mountains. They are not affected

by the Indian monsoons because they lie in the rain shadow of the Himalayas.

It includes:

Pin Valley National Park

Chandratal

Sarchu

Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary.

Cold Desert has an area of 7,770 square kilometres.

Features

Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve

Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve

Dibru-Saikhowa National Park is a national park in Assam, India, located in Dibrugarh and

Tinsukia districts. It was designated a Biosphere Reserve in July 1997

Features

The park is bounded by the Brahmaputra and Lohit Rivers in the north and Dibru river in the

south. It mainly consists of moist mixed semi-evergreen forests, moist mixed deciduous forests,

canebrakes and grasslands. It is the largest salix swamp forest in north-eastern India, with a

tropical monsoon climate with a hot and wet summer and cool and usually dry winter

Flora


The forest of Dibru-Saikhowa consists of semi-evergreen forests, deciduous, littoral and swamp

forests and patches of wet evergreen forests

Major tree species of the area are tetrasperma, Dillenia indica, Bischofia javanica

Originally created to help conserve the habitat of the rare white-winged wood duck, the park is

also home to other rare creatures such as water buffalo, black-breasted parrotbill, tiger and

capped langur. The park also has some eco lodges.

36 mammal species have been recorded, of which 12 are listed in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife

(Protection) Act of 1972.

Birds recorded include greater adjutant, ferruginous pochard, Jerdon's babbler, black-breasted

parrotbill etc.,

Species include Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, clouded leopard, jungle cat, sloth bear, dhole, small

Indian civet,etc.,

Two species of monitor lizard, eight turtle species and eight snake species have been recorded

Fauna

Dibru-SaikhowaBiosphere Reserve


Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve

The Seshachalam Hills are hilly ranges part of the Eastern Ghats in southern Andhra Pradesh

state, in southeastern India.

Minerals contained in these hills include sandstone and shale interbedded with limestone. The

ranges are bounded by the Rayalaseema uplands to the west and northwest, and the Nandyal

Valley to the north.

The ranges were formed during the Precambrian era

Features

The Srivenkateshwara National Park is also located in these ranges. The famous Natural Arch,

Tirumala Hills is also a part of Seshachalam Hills, which dates back to the period in between

Middle and Upper Proterozoic Eon

In 2010 it was designated as a Biosphere Reserve. It has large reserves of red sandalwood which is

used in medicines, soaps, spiritual rituals.

Seshachalam HillsBiosphere Reserve


Panna Biosphere Reserve

It was designated as Biosphere Reserve on 25 August 2011

Panna National Park is a national park located in Panna and Chhatarpur districts of Madhya

Pradesh in India

It was declared in 1993 as the twenty second Tiger reserve of India and the fifth in Madhya

Pradesh

Features

Sal, crocodile bark, Arjun, jamun, etc are trees present here.

The National Park is situated at a point where the continuity of the Tropical and subtropical dry

broadleaf forests belt, which starts from Cape Comorin in South India

Panna National Park and the surrounding territorial forest area of North and South Panna forest

division is the only large chunk of wildlife habitat remaining in North Madhya Pradesh in the

otherwise deciduous fragmented forest landscape of the region

Flora

Among the animals found here are the tiger, leopard, chital, chinkara, nilgai, sambhar and sloth

bear. The park is home to more than 200 species of birds including the bar-headed goose, honey

buzzard, king vulture, blossom-headed parakeet, changeable hawk-eagle and Indian vulture.

Fauna

PannaBiosphere Reserve


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