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Biosphere Reserves in India

Biosphere Reserves in India

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 

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