This article on Biosphere Reserves in India is written specifically for UPSC aspirants. Apart from a downloadable PDF map, this article also includes three important tables:
- Notified Biosphere Reserves in India with states
- World Network of Biosphere Reserves in India under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme
- Important species of Fauna found in these Biosphere Reserves.
Aspirants are encouraged to study the map and the tables thoroughly as questions have been and can be asked from these specific points.
Biosphere reserves are designated areas aimed at conserving the biodiversity of a particular region while promoting sustainable development.
They protect larger areas of natural habitat than a typical national park or wildlife sanctuary and often include one or more national parks or other protected areas.
Presently, there are 18 notified Biosphere Reserves in India. Out of these, 12 are recognized by UNESCO in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) under its Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme.
In the above-given map of Biosphere Reserves in India, all officially designated Biosphere Reserves are marked in green. Those included in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves are additionally highlighted with a blue circle.
List of Biosphere Reserves in India
The table below provides the list of all 18 Notified Biosphere Reserves in India along with their locations (States), year of designation, and their area in km2 :
| Name | Year | States/UTs | Area (km2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve | 1986 | Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka | 5,520 |
| Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve | 1988 | Uttarakhand | 5,861 |
| Nokrek Biosphere Reserve | 1988 | Meghalaya | 820 |
| Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve | 1989 | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 885 |
| Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve | 1989 | Tamil Nadu | 10,500 |
| Manas Biosphere Reserve | 1989 | Assam | 2,837 |
| Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve | 1989 | West Bengal | 9,630 |
| Simlipal Biosphere Reserve | 1994 | Odisha | 4,374 |
| Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve | 1997 | Assam | 765 |
| Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve | 1998 | Arunachal Pradesh | 5,112 |
| Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve | 1999 | Madhya Pradesh | 4,982 |
| Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve | 2000 | Sikkim | 2,620 |
| Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve | 2001 | Tamil Nadu, Kerala | 3,500 |
| Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve | 2005 | Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh | 3,836 |
| Great Rann of Kutch Biosphere Reserve | 2008 | Gujarat | 12,454 |
| Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve | 2009 | Himachal Pradesh | 7,770 |
| Seshachalam Hills Biosphere Reserve | 2010 | Andhra Pradesh | 4,756 |
| Panna Biosphere Reserve | 2011 | Madhya Pradesh | 2,999 |
Points to Remember:
- Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, added to the list in 2000, was the first from India to be included in UNESCO’s Network of Biosphere Reserves. The Panna Biosphere Reserve added in 2020, is the latest one.
- The Gulf of Kachchh (Gujarat) is the largest Biosphere reserve in India while Dibru-Saikhowa (Assam) is the smallest.
- Know the general location and states to which these Biosphere Reserves belong to.
- Questions have been asked to identify which protected areas (National Parks, Tiger Reserves, Wildlife Sanctuaries, etc.) are included within a particular Biosphere Reserve. If not all, you should at least cover those Biosphere Reserves that are in the news.
- Know the key faunas of these Biosphere reserves, especially of the ones that are in the news.
- 3 Biosphere Reserves in India share their area with two or more Indian States:
- Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve – Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
- Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve – Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
- Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve – Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
- The Manas BR, Sundarbans BR, and Nanda Devi BR are also associated with the List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India.
World Network of Biosphere Reserves in India
The UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) are internationally designated protected areas meant to demonstrate a balanced relationship between people and nature. They are created under the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB).
In 2020, the Panna Biosphere Reserve became the latest entry from India into the list of UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
Presently, 12 of the 18 biosphere reserves in the country have been recognized by UNESCO under the MAB Programme list.
The table below provides the list of UNESCO Protected Biosphere Reserves along with their location and year of entry into the list:
| Name | States/UTs | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve | Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka | 2000 |
| Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve | Tamil Nadu | 2000 |
| Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve | West Bengal | 2001 |
| Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve | Uttarakhand | 2004 |
| Nokrek Biosphere Reserve | Meghalaya | 2009 |
| Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve | Madhya Pradesh | 2009 |
| Simlipal Biosphere Reserve | Odisha | 2009 |
| Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve | Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh | 2012 |
| Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 2013 |
| Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve | Tamil Nadu, Kerala | 2016 |
| Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve | Sikkim | 2018 |
| Panna Biosphere Reserve | Madhya Pradesh | 2020 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some of the frequently asked questions related to Biosphere Reserves in India:
1. How many Biosphere Reserves are there in India?
Presently, there are 18 Biosphere Reserves in India.
2. Which was the first Biosphere Reserve in India?
The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, notified in the year 1986, was the first Biosphere Reserve in India.
3. Which is the latest Biosphere Reserve in India?
The Panna Biosphere Reserve, which was notified in 2011, is the latest addition to India’s Biosphere Reserves.
4. Which is the Largest Biosphere Reserve in India?
The Great Rann of Kutch Biosphere Reserve in Gujarat, with an area of 12,454 square kilometers, is the largest Biosphere Reserve in India.
5. Which is the smallest Biosphere Reserve in India?
Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve in Assam, with an area of 765 square kilometers, is the smallest Biosphere Reserve in India.
6. How many Biosphere Reserves in India are recognized by UNESCO?
Out of the 18 Biosphere Reserves in India, 12 are recognized by UNESCO. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, added to the list in 2000, was the first Biosphere Reserve from India to receive UNESCO recognition, while the Panna Biosphere Reserve, added in 2020, is the most recent addition.
Key Fauna in India’s Biosphere Reserves
The table below provides the key animal species found in each Biosphere Reserve (BR) in India along with their latest updated IUCN Red List status.
The following coloured abbreviations are used in the table:
- (LC) – Least Concern
- (NT) – Near Threatened
- (VU) – Vulnerable
- (EN) – Endangered
- (CR) – Critically Endangered
| Biosphere Reserves | Key Fauna |
|---|---|
| Nilgiri BR | Nilgiri Tahr (EN), Lion Tailed Macaque (EN), Malabar Giant Squirrel (LC) |
| Nanda Devi BR | Snow Leopard (VU), Musk Deer (EN), Bharal Or Blue Sheep (LC), Himalayan Black Bear (VU) |
| Nokrek BR | Red Panda (EN), Hoolock Gibbon (EN), Red Giant Flying Squirrel (LC) |
| Great Nicobar BR | Saltwater Crocodile (LC), Dugong (VU) |
| Gulf of Mannar BR | Dugong (VU) |
| Manas BR | Assam Roofed Turtle (CR), Bengal florican (CR), Pygmy Hog (EN), Hispid Hare (EN), Golden Langur (EN), Wild Water Buffalo (EN) |
| Sundarbans BR | Royal Bengal Tiger (EN) |
| Simlipal BR | Royal Bengal Tiger (EN), Asian Elephant (EN), Gaur (VU) |
| Dibru-Saikhowa BR | Tiger (EN), Clouded Leopard (VU), Water Buffalo (EN), Capped Langur (EN), Gangetic Dolphin (EN) |
| Dihang-Dibang BR | Takin (VU), Musk Deer (EN), Red Panda (EN) |
| Pachmarhi BR | Tiger (EN), Gaur (VU), Indian Giant Flying Squirrel (LC) |
| Khangchendzonga BR | Red Panda (EN), Snow Leopard (VU), Musk Deer (EN) |
| Agasthyamalai BR | Nilgiri Tahr (EN), Asian Elephant (EN) |
| Achanakmar-Amarkantak BR | Indian Wild Dog (Dhole) [EN], Four Horned Antelope (Chausingha) [VU] |
| Great Rann of Kutch BR | Great Indian Bustard (CR), Indian Wild Ass (NT) |
| Cold Desert BR | Snow Leopard (VU), Himalayan Ibex (Siberian Ibex) [NT] |
| Seshachalam Hills BR | Golden Gecko (LC), Gray Slender Loris (NT) |
| Panna BR | Tiger (EN), Chinkara (LC), Chital (LC), Sambar (VU) |
