Biosphere Reserves In India

Key Highlights:

• India has 18 notified Biosphere Reserves, with 13 recognized by UNESCO under its World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR).
• The International Day for Biosphere Reserves is observed annually on November 3rd, proclaimed by UNESCO.
• Biosphere Reserves aim to balance biodiversity conservation with sustainable development, integrating human livelihoods.
• India, one of the world's 17 mega-biodiverse countries, accounts for approximately 7–8% of recorded species globally.
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) administers the Centrally Sponsored Scheme 'Biodiversity Conservation' to support these reserves.

Detailed Insights:

• Biosphere Reserves are areas identified by national governments for conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable development.
• They protect natural habitats, maintain ecological balance, and promote the sustainable use of biological resources.
• UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, launched in 1971, promotes scientific approaches to improving relationships between people and their environment.
• Unlike National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries which primarily focus on wildlife protection, Biosphere Reserves adopt a broader approach by connecting protected ecosystems with surrounding communities.
• Their three main functions are conservation (protecting biodiversity), sustainable economic development (respecting ecological limits), and scientific support (research, education, monitoring).
• The zonation model includes a strictly protected Core Area, a Buffer Zone for compatible activities like ecotourism, and a Transition Area for sustainable livelihoods and settlements.
• Globally, UNESCO's Network of Biosphere Reserves comprises 797 sites across 145 countries, covering about 5% of Earth’s terrestrial surface and sustaining over 60% of terrestrial vertebrate species richness.
• India's network includes diverse ecosystems such as the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (Western Ghats), Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve (high-altitude), and Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve (marine).
• The Centrally Sponsored Scheme 'Biodiversity Conservation' provides grants-in-aid to states on a cost-sharing basis (60:40 for general states, 90:10 for North Eastern and Himalayan states).
• Integrated Management Plans have been piloted since 2022–23 for four reserves: Nanda Devi, Pachmarhi, Dehang-Dibang, and Agasthyamalai.
• A success story from the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve involves indigenous communities turning invasive Lantana camara into crafts, creating livelihoods and raising awareness.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Biodiversity: The variability of living organisms across terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems, encompassing genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.
• Biosphere Reserves: Internationally recognized areas for conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable development, integrating human communities.
• Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme: A UNESCO initiative promoting scientific approaches to improve relationships between people and their environment, launched in 1971.
• World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR): A dynamic and interactive network of sites designated under the MAB Programme, demonstrating sustainable development.