Biosphere Reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems which are internationally recognized within the framework of UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme. The world’s major ecosystem types and landscapes are represented in this network. Biosphere reserves are multi-purpose protected areas to preserve the genetic diversity in representative eco-systems. Conserve diversity and integrity of plants, animals and micro-organisms; Promote research on ecological conservation and other environmental aspects and Provide facilities for education, awareness and training.
The International Co-ordinating Council (ICC) of UNESCO introduced the designation of ‘Biosphere reserve’ for natural areas in November, 1971. After their designation, biosphere reserves remain under national sovereign jurisdiction, yet they share their experience and ideas nationally, regionally and internationally within the World network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR).
CRITERIA TO SELECT A BIOSPHERE RESERVE
PRIMARY CRITERIA | SECONDARY CRITERIA |
| A site that must contain an effectively protected and minimally disturbed core area of value of nature conservation and should include additional land and water suitable for research and demonstration of sustainable methods of research and management. | Areas having rare and endangered species |
| The core area should be typical of a biogeographical unit and large enough to sustain viable populations representing all tropic levels in the ecosystem. | Areas having diversity of soil and micro-climatic conditions and indigenous varieties of biota. |
| Areas potential for preservation of traditional tribal or rural modes of living for harmonious use of environment. |
WETLANDS, MANGROVES AND CORAL REEFS
Most of the wetlands in India are directly or indirectly linked with major river systems such as Ganga, Brahmaputra, Narmada, Tapti, Godavari, Krishna, Cauveri, etc. Mangroves are salt-tolerant forest ecosystems found mainly in the tropical and sub-tropical inter-tidal regions of the world. They are reservoirs of a large number of plant and animal species associated together over a long evolutionary period and exhibiting remarkable capacity for salt tolerance. They stabilise the shoreline and act as a bulwark against encroachments by the sea. In India, Mangroves are the 5% of the world total and total area covered by them is 4500 sq km.
Four coral areas, Gulf of Mannar, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands and Gulf of Kutch have been identified for conservation and management. State-level steering committees have been constituted for the formulation and implementation of management action plans. Such action plans have been sanctioned for Andaman and Nicobar and Gulf of Mannar coral reefs so far. Total area covered by coral reefs in India is 2375 sq km.
LIST OF BIOSPHERE RESERVES IN INDIA
NAME OF BIOSPHERE RESERVES | LOCATION |
| Achankamar- Amarkantak | Covers parts of Anupur and Dindori districts of Madhya Pradesh and parts Bilaspur districts of Chhattisgarh. |
| Agasthyamalai | Neyyyar, Peppara and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries and their adjoining areas in Kerala. |
| Cold Desert | Pin Valley National Park and surroundings; Chandratal and Sarchu & Kibber Wildlife in Himachal Pradesh. |
| Dehang- Debang | Part of Siang and Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh. |
| Dibru- Saikhowa | Part of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia Districts (Assam) |
| Great Nicobar | Southern most islands of Andaman & Nicobar. |
| Gulf of Mannar | Indian part of Gulf of Mannar between India and Srilanka (Tamil Nadu) |
| Kachchh | Part of Katchchh, Rajkot, Surendra Nagar and Patan Civil Districts of Gujarat State. |
| Khang Chendzonga | Parts of Khang Chenzonga hills and Sikkim. |
| Manas | Part of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamprup and Daran districts (Assam) |
| Nanda Devi | Part of Chamoli, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar districts (Uttarakhand) |
| Nilgiri | Part Wayanad, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Madumalai, Nilambur, Silent Valley and Siruvani hills (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka) |
| Nokrek | Part of Garo Hills (Meghalaya) |
| Seshachalam Hills | Covering parts of Chittor and Kadapa districts of Andhra Pradesh |
| Simlipal | Part of Mayurbhanj district (Orissa) |
| Sunderban | Part of delta of Ganges and Brahmaputra river system (West Bengal) |
The National Biosphere Reserve Programme in India was initiated in 1986 to serve as wider base for conservation of entire range of living resources and their ecological foundations in addition to already established protected area network system. It is this ecological diversity that makes India as one of the mega-diversity regions on the globe. Efforts are on to designate at least one Biosphere Reserve in each of the Bio-geographic Province. Here is the list of potential sites in India as designated to be biosphere Reserve is given below:
LIST OF POTENTIAL SITES FOR BIOSPHERE RESERVES
POTENTIAL SITES FOR BIOSPHERE RESERVESAS SELECTED BY MINISTRY OF FORESTS AND ENVIRONMENT |
| Abujmarh, Chhattisgarh |
| Andaman and Nicobar, North Islands |
| Chintapalli, Visakhapatnam Andhra Pradesh |
| Kanha, Madhya Pradesh |
| Kovalam, Kerala |
| Lakshadweep Islands, Lakshadweep |
| Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat |
| Phawngpui (Blue Mountain), Mizoram |
| Namdapha, Arunachal Pradesh |
| Singhbhum |
| Tawang and West Kameng, Arunachal PradeshThar Desert, Rajasthan |
| kd national park, Rajasthan |
| chicku national park, Rajasthan |
.jpg){kind=logo}
Comments
All Comments (0)
Join the conversation