Biosphere Reserves

(Photo: Bitapi C. Sinha, Nilgiri, Biosphere Reserve)
What is Biosphere Reserve
Biosphere reserves are sites established by countries and recognized under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme to promote sustainable development based on local community efforts and sound science.The programme of Biosphere Reserve was initiated by UNESCO in 1971. The purpose of the formation of the biosphere reserve is to conserve in situ all forms of life, along with its support system, in its totality, so that it could serve as a referral system for monitoring and evaluating changes in natural ecosystems. The first biosphere reserve of the world was established in 1979, since then the network of biosphere reserves has increased to 631 in 119 countries across the world (Read more at http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/).
 
Presently, there are 18 notified biosphere reserves in India.
  

  Biosphere Reserves in India (as on Dec, 2023)

 

S. No.
Name

 Date of
Notification

 Area (in km2)

Location (State)

1

Nilgiri

01.09.1986

5520
(Core 1240 & Buffer 4280) 

Part of Wayanad, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Madumalai, Nilambur, Silent Valley and Siruvani hills (Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka).

2

Nanda Devi 

18.01.1988

5860.69
(Core 712.12, Buffer 5,148.570) & T. 546.34)

Part of Chamoli, Pithoragarh, and Bageshwar districts (Uttarakhand). 

3

Nokrek 

01.09.1988

820
(Core 47.48 & Buffer 227.92, Transition Zone 544.60)

Part of Garo hills (Meghalaya).

4

Great Nicobar 

06.01.1989

885 (Core 705 & Buffer 180)

Southern most islands of Andaman And Nicobar (A&N Islands). 

5

Gulf of Mannar

18.02.1989

10,500 km2
Total Gulf area
(area of Islands 5.55 km2) 

Indian part of Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka (Tamil Nadu).

6

Manas

14.03.1989

2837
(Core 391 & Buffer 2,446)

Part of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamprup and Darang districts (Assam) 

7

Sunderbans

29.03.1989

9630
(Core 1700 & Buffer  7900)

Part of delta of Ganges and Brahamaputra river system 
(West Bengal). 

8

Simlipal

21.06.1994

4374
(Core 845, Buffer 2129 & Transition 1400

Part of Mayurbhanj district (Orissa).  

9

Dibru-Saikhowa

28.07.1997

765 
(Core 340 & Buffer 425)

Part of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia Districts (Assam)

10

Dehang-Dibang

02.09.1998

5111.50
(Core 4094.80 &Buffer 1016.70)

Part of Siang and Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh. 

11

Pachmarhi

03.03.1999

4926

Parts of Betul, Hoshangabad and Chindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh. 

12

Khangchendzonga 

07.02.2000

2619.92
(Core 1819.34 & Buffer 835.92)

Parts of Khangchendzonga hills and Sikkim.

13

Agasthyamalai

12.11.2001

1828

Neyyar, Peppara and Shendurney  Wildlife Sanctuaries and their adjoining areas in Kerala.

14

Achanakamar -    Amarkantak

30.3.2005

3835.51 
(Core 551.55 & Buffer  3283.86)

Covers parts of Anupur and Dindori districts of M.P. and parts of Bilaspur districts of Chhattishgarh State.

15

Kachchh

29.01.2008

12,454 km2

Part of Kachchh, Rajkot, Surendra Nagar and Patan Civil Districts of Gujarat State

16

Cold Desert

28.08.2009

7770

Pin Valley National Park and surroundings; Chandratal and Sarchu&Kibber Wildlife Sancturary in Himachal Pradesh

17

Seshachalam Hills

20.09.2010

4755.997

Seshachalam Hill Ranges covering parts of Chittoor and Kadapa districts of Andhra Pradesh

18

Panna

25.08.2011

2998.98

Part of Panna and Chhattarpur districts in Madhya Pradesh

 Source: MoEFCC & State Forest Departments