List of Biosphere Reserves in India under UNESCO: Access the Full List here

Skandh Gupta | Updated: May 5, 2022 17:40 IST

Biosphere Reserve is an international title given by UNESCO. This title is given to represent the parts of natural and cultural landscapes that extend over a large area of terrestrial or marine ecosystems or a combination of both. Biosphere Reserves are designated to deal with one of the most important issues of conserving biodiversity. Today we will give out the List of Biosphere Reserves in India under UNESCO.

Table of Contents

The Need for Biosphere Reserves
Function of Biosphere Reserves
List of Biosphere Reserves under UNESCO
The list of Biosphere Reserves in India under UNESCO
List of Biosphere Reserves in India under UNESCO Protection
Upcoming Biosphere Reserve in India
List of Biosphere Reserves in India under UNESCO – FAQ

The Need for Biosphere Reserves

In the current era, the quest for economic and social development is equally important in our world. Thus, Biosphere Reserves are an exciting amalgamation of maintenance of economic and social values along with nature. Biosphere Reserves are special environments for both people and nature. These are the living examples of how human beings and nature can co-exist while respecting each others’ needs.

Function of Biosphere Reserves

Every biosphere reserve has to fulfill three harmonizing functions:

Conservation function: Biosphere Reserves should conserve genetic resources, species, ecosystems, and landscapes
Development function: Biosphere Reserves should promote sustainable human and economic development.
Logistic support function: Biosphere Reserves are meant to provide support for research and analysing of the issues of conservation and sustainable development.

List of Biosphere Reserves under UNESCO

This is how the Biosphere Reserves are distributed across the World:

85 sites in 31 countries in Africa
33 sites in 12 countries in the Arab States
157 sites in 24 countries in Asia and the Pacific
302 sites in 38 countries in Europe and North America
130 sites in 21 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The list of Biosphere Reserves in India under UNESCO

Biosphere reserves is announced by the Indian state or central governments. The process is long but the final announcement is made by notification. These Governments are empowered to nominate the names under the UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme after its establishment as a biosphere reserve. There are 18 biosphere reserves in India. You can find the list of Biosphere Reserves in India under UNESCO below.

No.	Name of Biosphere Reserve	Year of Notification	Location (States)
1	Nilgiri	1986	Part of Wayanad, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Madumalai, Nilambur, Silent Valley, and Siruvani hills (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka).
2	Nanda Devi	1988	Part of Chamoli, Pithoragarh, and Bageshwar districts (Uttarakhand).
3	Nokrek	1988	Part of Garo Hills (Meghalaya).
4	Great Nicobar	1989	Southernmost islands of Andaman And Nicobar (A&N Islands).
5	Gulf of Mannar	1989	The Indian part of the Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka (Tamil Nadu).
6	Manas	1989	Part of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamprup, and Darang districts (Assam).
7	Sunderbans	1989	Part of the delta of Ganges and Brahmaputra river system(West Bengal).
8	Simlipal	1994	Part of the Mayurbhanj district (Orissa).
9	Dibru-Saikhowa	1997	Part of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia Districts (Assam).
10	Dehang-Dibang	1998	Part of Siang and Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh.
11	Pachmarhi	1999	Parts of Betul, Hoshangabad, and Chindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh.
12	Khangchendzonga	2000	Parts of Khangchendzonga hills and Sikkim.
13	Agasthyamalai	2001	Neyyar, Peppara, and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries and their adjoining areas in Kerala.
14	Achanakamar – Amarkantak	2005	Covers parts of Anupur and Dindori districts of M.P. and parts of Bilaspur districts of Chhattishgarh State.
15	Kachchh	2008	Part of Kachchh, Rajkot, Surendra Nagar, and Patan Civil Districts of Gujarat State.
16	Cold Desert	2009	Pin Valley National Park and surroundings; Chandratal and Sarchu & Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh.
17	Seshachalam Hills	2010	Seshachalam Hill Ranges covering parts of Chittoor and Kadapa districts of Andhra Pradesh.
18	Panna	2011	Part of Panna and Chhattarpur districts in Madhya Pradesh.

List of Biosphere Reserves in India under UNESCO Protection

Recently, Panna Biosphere Reserve was also included in the List of Biosphere Reserves in India under UNESCO Protection. The status was given in the year 2020. Before that, the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve from India was also included in this list in 2018.

The List of Biosphere Reserves in India under UNESCO Protection is given below along with the year they were recognized in.

Year	Name	States
2000	Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve	Tamil Nadu
2001	Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve	Tamil Nadu
2001	Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve	West Bengal
2004	Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve	Uttarakhand
2009	Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve	Madhya Pradesh
2009	Nokrek Biosphere Reserve	Meghalaya
2009	Simlipal Biosphere Reserve	Odisha
2012	Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve	Chhattisgarh
2013	Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve	Great Nicobar
2016	Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve	Kerala and Tamil Nadu
2018	Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve	Part of North and West Sikkim districts
2020	Panna Biosphere Reserve	Madhya Pradesh

Upcoming Biosphere Reserve in India

The Odisha State Government has made a proposal to give the status of Biosphere Reserve to Mahendragiri Hill Complex. If it becomes a biosphere reserve, Mahendragiri Hill Complex will be Odisha’s second Biosphere Reserve after Similipal Biosphere Reserve.

UNESCO is promoting the peaceful amalgamation of human and nature for sustainable development. Biosphere Reserves are a part of the same. Keep reading our articles to get more such information on current affairs and ace your exam!