Dear Readers, Here I Provide all list of Biosphere Reserves in India details with established year, states, Area in Kilometers, and animals in Biosphere Reserves etc. Also List of Biosphere Reserves in India under World Biosphere Reserves.
It is one of the important General Knowledge for all competitive examination like Railway NTPC, Group-D, SSC, Banking, State PSU etc.
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Other important GK topics for the competitive exam are :
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Biosphere Reserves in India: Biosphere Reserve program was launched by UNESCO in 1971 under the aegis of its Man and Biosphere (MAB) program to provide a global network of protected areas for conserving natural communities.
Here protection is granted to the flora, fauna of the protected region and also to the Human community who inhabits these Regions.
The purpose of the Biosphere Reserve is the conservation of biological diversity in various ecosystems.
There are 18 Biosphere Reserves set up in India which protects larger areas of Natural Habitat (National park or Sanctuary) and along buffer zones that are open to some economic uses.
Table of Contents
Zones in Biosphere Reserve
Biosphere reserves have 3 interrelated zones that aim to fulfill three complementary and mutually reinforcing functions:
The core area is a strictly protected ecosystem that contributes to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation.
The buffer zone surrounds or adjoins the core areas. This zone may be used for agricultural land, forests, fisheries or ranchland to enhance the overall quality of production. Also may be used for experimental research.
The transition area is the large outer area of a reserve where people live and work and the greatest activity is allowed. The local communities, conservation agencies, scientists, civil associations, cultural groups, businesses, and other stakeholders agree to work together to manage and use the area in a sustainable way that will benefit the people who live there.
In India first Biosphere Reserve is Nilgiri (TamilNadu, Kerala, Karnataka) came beginning in 1986. Dibru-Saikhowa in Assam is the smallest and Great Ran of Kutch in Gujarat is the largest Biosphere Reserve in India.
List of Biosphere Reserves in India:
| SI NO. | Name | Year | State | Key fauna | Area(Km2) |
| 1 | Nilgiri (first) | 1986 | Tamil Nadu,
Kerala, Karnataka |
Nilgiri Tahr, Macaque | 5520 |
| 2 | Nanda Devi | 1988 | Uttarakhand | Himalayan Musk deer, tahr, snow leopard | 5860 |
| 3 | Nokrek | 1988 | Meghalaya | Red panda | 820 |
| 4 | Great Nicobar | 1989 | Andaman & Nicobar | Saltwater crocodile | 885 |
| 5 | Gulf Of Manner | 1989 | Tamil Nadu | Dugong or sea cow | 10500 |
| 6 | Manas | 1989 | Assam | Golden Langur, Red panda | 2837 |
| 7 | Sundarban | 1989 | West Bengal | Royal Bengal Tiger | 9630 |
| 8 | Similipal | 1994 | Odisha | Gaur, Royal Bengal Tiger, wild elephant | 4374 |
| 9 | Dibru Saikhowa(smallest) | 1997 | Assam | Golden Langur | 765 |
| 10 | Dihang Dibang | 1998 | Arunachal Pradesh | Red panda, Asiatic black deer | 5112 |
| 11 | Panchmarhi | 1999 | Madhyapradesh | Giant Squirrel, Flying Squirrel | 4981.72 |
| 12 | Kangchendzonga | 2000 | Sikkim | Red panda, Snow Leopard | 2620 |
| 13 | Agasthyamalai | 2001 | TamilNadu, Kerala | Nilgiri Tahr, Elephant | 3500.08 |
| 14 | Achanakamar-Amarkantak | 2005 | MP, Chhatisgarh | Chitals, Sambars, Black Buck | 3835 |
| 15 | Ran of Kutch | 2008 | Gujarat | Wild Ass | 12454 |
| 16 | Cold Desert | 2009 | Himachal Pradesh, J &K | Snow Leopard | 7770 |
| 17 | Seshachalan Hills | 2010 | Andhra Pradesh | Slender Loris | 4755.997 |
| 18 | Panna | 2011 | Madhya Pradesh | Tiger | 542.7 |
List of Biosphere Reserves in India under World Biosphere Reserves
Out of the eighteen(18) biosphere reserves in India Twelve (12) are a part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, based on the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme list.
| SI.No. | Biosphere Name | States/ UT | Year |
| 1 | Nilgiri | Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka | 2000 |
| 2 | Gulf of Mannar | Tamil Nadu | 2001 |
| 3 | Sundarbans | West Bengal | 2001 |
| 4 | Nanda Devi | Uttarakhand | 2004 |
| 5 | Nokrek | Meghalaya | 2009 |
| 6 | Pachmarhi | Madhya Pradesh | 2009 |
| 7 | Simlipal | Odisha | 2009 |
| 8 | Great Nicobar | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 2013 |
| 9 | Achanakmar-Amarkantak | Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh | 2012 |
| 10 | Agasthyamalai | Kerala and Tamil Nadu | 2016 |
| 11 | Khangchendzonga | Sikkim | 2018 |
| 12 | Panna | Madhya Pradesh | 2020 |
Download Biosphere list in India PDF
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q.Which is the smallest biosphere reserve in India?
