Biosphere Reserves

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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 https://en.unesco.org/biosphere).

Presently, there are 18 notified biosphere reserves in India. 

  Biosphere Reserves in India 

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

 


Last Updated: June 23, 2021