A biosphere reserve is a site designated under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme.

Biosphere Reserve

What is a Biosphere Reserve?

A Biosphere Reserve (BR) is an area designated for the conservation of biodiversity while promoting sustainable development and harmonious interaction between people and nature.

Biosphere Reserves may include:

• Terrestrial ecosystems
• Marine ecosystems
• Coastal ecosystems
• Forests
• Mountains
• Wetlands
• Islands

They function as “learning places for sustainable development” and as living laboratories for studying the interaction between ecological and socio-economic systems.

Key objectives

1. Conservation of biodiversity.
2. Protection of ecosystems and landscapes.
3. Promotion of scientific research and monitoring.
4. Sustainable use of natural resources.
5. Promotion of local and traditional knowledge.
6. Development of sustainable livelihoods.
7. Reduction of pressure on ecologically sensitive areas.
8. Promotion of environmental education.

2. UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme

The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme is a UNESCO programme under which Biosphere Reserves are internationally recognized.

The World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) consists of biosphere reserves recognized under the UNESCO MAB Programme.

Important points

• Biosphere Reserves are nominated by national governments.
• They remain under the sovereign jurisdiction of the concerned country/state.
• UNESCO recognition is different from the initial notification of a Biosphere Reserve by India.
• The MAB Programme seeks to combine:
  • biodiversity conservation,
  • scientific research,
  • environmental education,
  • sustainable development, and
  • community welfare.

MAB-ICC

The main governing body of the MAB Programme is the International Coordinating Council (MAB-ICC).

• It is also known as the MAB Council.
• It consists of 34 Member States.

3. Biosphere Reserves in India

• 18 Biosphere Reserves have been notified in India.
• They cover approximately 91,425 sq. km.
• 13 Biosphere Reserves are recognized by UNESCO under the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
• They extend across India’s mountains, forests, coasts and islands.

Latest important update

The Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve of Himachal Pradesh was included in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves in September 2025.

List of Biosphere Reserves of India

No.	Biosphere Reserve	Year	State/UT	Area (km²)
1	Nilgiri	1986	Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka	5,520
2	Nanda Devi	1988	Uttarakhand	5,860
3	Nokrek	1988	Meghalaya	820
4	Gulf of Mannar	1989	Tamil Nadu	10,500
5	Sundarbans	1989	West Bengal	9,630
6	Manas	1989	Assam	2,837
7	Great Nicobar	1989	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	885
8	Similipal/Simlipal	1994	Odisha	4,374
9	Dibru-Saikhowa	1997	Assam	765
10	Dihang-Dibang	1998	Arunachal Pradesh	5,112
11	Pachmarhi	1999	Madhya Pradesh	4,982
12	Khangchendzonga	2000	Sikkim	2,620
13	Agasthyamalai	2001	Kerala, Tamil Nadu	3,500
14	Achanakmar-Amarkantak	2005	Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh	3,835
15	Great Rann of Kutch	2008	Gujarat	12,454
16	Cold Desert	2009	Himachal Pradesh	7,770
17	Seshachalam Hills	2010	Andhra Pradesh	4,755
18	Panna	2011	Madhya Pradesh	543

Biosphere Reserves – Reserve-wise Important Facts

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

Year: 1986
States: Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka
Area: 5,520 km²

Important facts

• India’s first Biosphere Reserve.
• The Nilgiris are associated with the Neelakurinji flower, which blossoms once in approximately 12 years.
• Important protected areas associated with the Nilgiri landscape include:
  • Mudumalai
  • Mukurthi
  • Nagarhole
  • Bandipur
  • Silent Valley
  • Aralam
  • Wayanad
  • Sathyamangalam.

Important fauna

• Lion-tailed Macaque
• Nilgiri Tahr
• Malabar Giant Squirrel
• Nilgiri Langur

Exam keyword: Western Ghats + Neelakurinji + Nilgiri Tahr.

Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve

Year: 1988
State: Uttarakhand
Area: 5,860 km²

Important facts

Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve includes:

• Nanda Devi National Park
• Valley of Flowers National Park

Major fauna

• Snow Leopard
• Musk Deer
• Bharal/Blue Sheep

Exam keyword: Nanda Devi + Valley of Flowers + Snow Leopard.

Nokrek Biosphere Reserve

Year: 1988
State: Meghalaya
Area: 820 km²

Important facts

• Nokrek (1,412 m) is the highest peak of the Garo Hills.
• Vegetation includes:
  • evergreen,
  • semi-evergreen, and
  • deciduous forests.

Major fauna

• Red Panda
• Hoolock Gibbon
• Red Giant Flying Squirrel

Exam keyword: Garo Hills + Meghalaya + Red Panda.

Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve

Year: 1989
State: Tamil Nadu
Area: 10,500 km²

Important facts

• Located between the southeastern tip of India and Sri Lanka.
• Associated with the Coromandel Coast.
• Contains:
  • islands,
  • estuaries,
  • seagrass,
  • coral reefs,
  • salt marshes and
  • mangroves.
• Ram Setu/Adam’s Bridge separates the Gulf of Mannar from Palk Bay.

Major fauna

• Dugong
• Olive Ridley Turtle

Exam keyword: Marine Biosphere Reserve + Dugong + Coral reefs.

Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve

Year: 1989
State: West Bengal
Area: 9,630 km²

Important facts

• Located in the Ganga Delta.
• Borders Bangladesh.
• Famous for the Royal Bengal Tiger.
• Important protected areas associated with the reserve include:
  • Sundarbans National Park
  • Sajnekhali Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Lothian Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Haliday Wildlife Sanctuary.

Exam keyword: Mangrove ecosystem + Ganga Delta + Royal Bengal Tiger.

Manas Biosphere Reserve

Year: 1989
State: Assam
Area: 2,837 km²

Important facts

• Associated with Manas National Park.
• Contiguous with Royal Manas National Park of Bhutan.
• Famous for the Wild Water Buffalo.

Important fauna

• Assam Roofed Turtle
• Hispid Hare
• Golden Langur
• Pygmy Hog
• Wild Water Buffalo
• Bengal Florican

Exam keyword: Assam + Bhutan + Wild Water Buffalo + Golden Langur.

Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve

Year: 1989
UT: Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Area: 885 km²

Important facts

Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve includes:

• Campbell Bay National Park
• Galathea National Park

Vegetation is dominated by tropical wet evergreen forests.

Major fauna

• Dugong
• Saltwater Crocodile

Exam keyword: Great Nicobar + Campbell Bay + Galathea.

Similipal Biosphere Reserve

Year: 1994
State: Odisha
Area: 4,374 km²

Important facts

It is associated with the Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve, comprising:

• Similipal Tiger Reserve
• Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary
• Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary.

Important tribal communities include:

• Erenga
• Kharia
• Mankirdia
• Ho
• Gonda
• Munda.

Major fauna

• Royal Bengal Tiger
• Wild Elephant
• Gaur
• Chausingha

Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve

Year: 1999
State: Madhya Pradesh
Area: 4,982 km²

Important facts

Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve includes:

• Satpura National Park
• Bori Wildlife Sanctuary
• Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary

It lies in the Satpura Range.

Highest point

Dhoopgarh – 1,352 m

Important tribe

Gond

Major fauna

• Tiger
• Gaur
• Indian Giant Flying Squirrel

Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve

Year: 2000
State: Sikkim
Area: 2,620 km²

Important facts

• Located in a major Himalayan biodiversity region.
• Includes Mount Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-highest mountain.
• Elevation ranges from approximately 1,220 m to 8,586 m.
• Khangchendzonga National Park forms the core area.
• Khangchendzonga National Park was inscribed as India’s first Mixed World Heritage Site.

Major fauna

• Red Panda
• Snow Leopard
• Musk Deer
• Great Tibetan Sheep/Argali

Exam keyword: Sikkim + Kanchenjunga + Mixed World Heritage Site.

Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve

Year: 2001
States: Kerala and Tamil Nadu
Area: 3,500 km²

Includes

• Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary
• Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary
• Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary
• Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

It is also associated with the Kani tribal community.

Major fauna

Nilgiri Tahr

Important exam question

Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve includes which of the following?

The correct combination given in the source is:

Neyyar, Peppara and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries and Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.

Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve

Year: 2005
States: Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
Area: 3,835 km²

Important facts

• Extends across Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
• Includes the Maikal Hills along with parts of the eastern Vindhyas and Satpuras.
• Vegetation:
  • moist deciduous forests
  • dry deciduous forests.

Major fauna

• Four-horned Antelope/Chausingha
• Indian Wild Dog/Dhole

Exam keyword: MP + Chhattisgarh + Maikal Hills.

Great Rann of Kutch Biosphere Reserve

Year: 2008
State: Gujarat
Area: 12,454 km²

Important facts

• The Great Rann of Kutch is a salt marsh in the Thar Desert.
• Associated areas include:
  • Kachchh Desert Sanctuary
  • Wild Ass Sanctuary
  • Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary
  • Kutch Bustard Sanctuary
  • Banni Grasslands Reserve.

Major fauna

• Great Indian Bustard
• Indian Wild Ass

Exam keyword: Gujarat + Salt Marsh + Indian Wild Ass + Great Indian Bustard.

Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve

Year: 2009
State: Himachal Pradesh
Area: 7,770 km²

Important areas

• Pin Valley National Park
• Chandratal
• Sarchu
• Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary.

Major fauna

• Snow Leopard
• Himalayan Ibex

Current-affairs importance

The Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve was included in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves in September 2025.

Exam keyword: Himachal Pradesh + Trans-Himalayan ecosystem + Snow Leopard + 2025 UNESCO recognition.

Seshachalam Hills Biosphere Reserve

Year: 2010
State: Andhra Pradesh
Area: 4,755 km²

Important facts

• Located in the Eastern Ghats of southern Andhra Pradesh.
• Tirupati and Sri Venkateswara National Park are associated with the Seshachalam Hills.
• Famous for Red Sanders, a rare and economically important plant.
• Golden Gecko is associated with the Tirumala Hills.

Exam keyword: Andhra Pradesh + Eastern Ghats + Red Sanders + Tirupati.

Panna Biosphere Reserve

Year: 2011
State: Madhya Pradesh
Area: 543 km²

Important facts

The source identifies:

Panna Biosphere Reserve = Panna Tiger Reserve

Major fauna

• Tiger
• Chital
• Chinkara
• Sambar

Exam keyword: Madhya Pradesh + Tiger + smallest area among the listed reserves.

Important Flora and Fauna – One-Liner Revision

Biosphere Reserve	Important Species
Nilgiri	Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Tahr
Nanda Devi	Snow Leopard, Musk Deer, Bharal
Nokrek	Red Panda, Hoolock Gibbon
Gulf of Mannar	Dugong, Olive Ridley
Sundarbans	Royal Bengal Tiger
Manas	Wild Water Buffalo, Golden Langur, Pygmy Hog
Great Nicobar	Dugong, Saltwater Crocodile
Similipal	Tiger, Elephant, Gaur, Chausingha
Pachmarhi	Tiger, Gaur
Khangchendzonga	Red Panda, Snow Leopard
Agasthyamalai	Nilgiri Tahr
Achanakmar-Amarkantak	Four-horned Antelope, Dhole
Great Rann of Kutch	Great Indian Bustard, Indian Wild Ass
Cold Desert	Snow Leopard, Himalayan Ibex
Seshachalam Hills	Red Sanders, Golden Gecko
Panna	Tiger, Chital, Chinkara, Sambar
Dibru-Saikhowa	Bengal Tiger, Clouded Leopard, Gangetic Dolphin
Dihang-Dibang	Takin, Red Panda

Important Government Initiatives Linked with Biosphere Reserves

India’s Biosphere Reserve programme works alongside several conservation programmes.

Project Tiger

• Started in 1973.
• Focuses on tiger conservation and habitat protection.
• Completed 50 years in 2023.

Project Elephant

Focuses on:

• elephant habitat protection,
• mitigation of human-elephant conflict,
• conservation of elephant populations, and
• welfare of captive elephants.

Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats

A Centrally Sponsored Scheme providing financial and technical assistance to States and Union Territories for wildlife conservation.

National Biodiversity Action Plan

Works within India’s biodiversity conservation framework and is connected with regulation of biological resources and associated traditional knowledge.

Eco-Sensitive Zones

Act as a transition or “shock absorber” around protected areas, helping regulate activities around ecologically sensitive ecosystems.

Green India Mission

Focuses on:

• restoration and enhancement of forest cover,
• biodiversity,
• water resources,
• ecosystems such as mangroves and wetlands,
• climate-change mitigation.

Funding Pattern for Biosphere Reserve Conservation

The Biosphere Reserve Division of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) administers a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for biodiversity conservation.

Cost-sharing pattern

Region	Central : State
General States	60 : 40
North-Eastern & Himalayan States	90 : 10

The scheme also emphasizes alternative livelihoods, eco-development and sustainable resource management for communities living in and around Biosphere Reserves