BIOSPHERE RESERVE IN INDIA

DEFINITION:

The term ‘Biosphere Reserve' should denote an area:

• Which is, set aside for the conservation of the resources of the biosphere and for the improvement of the relationship between man and the environment?

• Which is, to serve as sites for long term scientific research as well as education all over the world?

The programme of Biosphere Reserve was initiated under the 'Man & Biosphere' (MAB) programme by UNESCO in 1971. Biosphere Reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems promoting solutions to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use. They are internationally recognized, nominated by National Governments and remain under sovereign jurisdiction of the states where they are located. Biosphere Reserves serve in some ways as 'living laboratories' for testing out and demonstrating integrated management of land, water and biodiversity (CES., UNESCO, 2005., IUCN, 1979).

Biosphere Reserve Objectives

Each Biosphere Reserve is intended to fulfill three basic functions, which are complementary and mutually reinforcing:

• A conservation function - to contribute to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation;

• A development function - to foster economic and human development which is socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable;

•  A logistic function - to provide support for research, monitoring, education and information exchange related to local, national and global issues of conservation and development (UNESCO, 2005).

List of Biosphere Reserves in India

S.No. Name Area of Biosphere (sq km)

Date of establishment

District State

1 Achanakmar-Amarkantak 3835.51 2005 Anupur, Dindori & Madhya

Bilaspur Pradesh & Chhattishgarh

2 Agasthyamalai

1701.00 2001 - Kerala

3 Dehang-Debang 5111.5 1998 Siang & Debang Valley

Arunachal Pradesh

4 Dibru-Saikhowa 765.00 1997 Dibrugarh and Tinsukia

Assam

5 Great Nicobar 885.00 1989 Southern most Island of Andaman and Nicobar

Andaman and Nicobar

6 Gulf of Mannar 10,500.00 1989 Indian part of Gulf of Mannar

Tamil Nadu

7 Khangchenjunga 2619.92 2000 Khangchendzonga Hills

Sikkim

8 Manas 2837.00 1989

Part of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamprup and Darang

Assam

9 Nanda Devi 5860 1988 Chamoli, Almora, and Pithoragarh,

Uttaranchal

10 Nilgiri 5520.4 1986

Part of Wayanad, Bandipur, and Nagarhole, Nilambur, Silent Valley and Siruvani Hills

Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka

11 Nokrek 80.00 1988 Part of Garo Hills Meghalaya

12 Pachmarhi 4926.00 1999 Betul, Hoshangabad and Chindwara

Madhya Pradesh

13 Simlipal 4374.00 1994 Mayurbhanj Orissa

14 Sunderbans 9630.00 1989 Delta of Ganges and Brahmaputra

West Bengal

Protected area categories

Name Objectives Features Zone

National Parks

Conservation of species of a habitat with minimal or very low intensity of human activity.

No human resides in the Park, other than a public servant on duty and permitted persons by the Chief Wild Life Warden.

Core

Sanctuaries

Conservation of species and habitats by manipulative management.

No human resides in the Sanctuary, other than a public servant on duty and permitted persons by the Chief Wild Life Warden.

Core, Buffer and Restoration

Biosphere Reserves

Conservation of the natural resources and for the improvement of the relationship between man and the environment therein.

Both natural and human-influenced ecosystems; substantial human settlements (rural).

Core, Buffer, Restoration and Cultural

Natural or Core Zone

Managed for minimum human interference, to serve as a baseline for the biological region; research, educational and training activities are carefully controlled and must have a non-manipulative effect in the zone.

Manipulative or Buffer Zone

Managed for research, education and training activities and manipulative methods and techniques are permitted. Traditional activities including timber production, hunting, fishing and grazing are permitted.

Reclamation or Restoration

Managed to study and reclaim lands and natural resources where heavy natural and human caused alteration has passed ecological thresholds, where biological process have been interrupted or where species have become locally extinct.

Cultural Zone

Managed to protect and study ongoing cultures and land use practices, which are in harmony with the environment. Here, local residents and their activities are on the move, but new technologies may be strictly controlled (IUCN, 1997).

Conservation Reserve

The State Government may, after having consultation with the local communities, declare any area owned by Government, particularly the areas adjacent to National Parks and Sanctuaries and those areas which link one protected area with another, as a Conservation Reserve for protecting landscapes, seascapes, flora and fauna and their habitats (Wildlife Protection Society of India, 2003).

There are two Conservation Areas in India covering an area of 42.44 square km, which is 0.001% of the geographical area of the country. The State of Uttaranchal had established these two Conservation Reserves in August 2005 (NIC, 2005).

S.No. Name Area of reserves (sq km)

Date of establishment

District State

1 Asan Barrage Wetland

4.44 2005 Dehradun Uttaranchal

2 Jhilmi Jheel 38.00 2005 Haridwar Uttaranchal

State-wise break up of protected areas in India

State/Union Territories

Area covered (sq km) NP+WS+CR

No. Of National Parks (NP)

No. Of Wildlife Sanctuaries (WS)

No. Of Conservation Reserves (CR)

Area of state (sq km)

% Of protected area in state

Andhra Pradesh

12973.31 4 22 0 275068 4.72

Arunachal Pradesh

10074.6 2 11 0 83743 12.03

Assam 3537.89 5 20 0 78438 4.51

Bihar 3334.69 1 11 0 94163 3.54

Chhattisgarh 6348.96 3 10 0 135194 4.69

Goa 754.43 1 6 0 3702 20.38

Gujarat 16902.39 4 21 0 196024 8.62

Haryana 348.84 2 10 0 44212 0.79

Himachal Pradesh

7200.25 2 32 0 55673 12.93

Jammu & Kashmir

14870.22 4 15 0 222235 6.69

Jharkhand 2100.4 1 10 0 79714 2.63

Karnataka 6676.63 5 21 0 191791 3.48

Kerala 2701.55 6 13 0 38863 6.95

Madhya Pradesh

10854.48 9 25 0 308252 3.52

Maharashtra 15770.45 5 35 0 307690 5.13

Manipur 224.8 1 1 0 22327 1.01

Meghalaya 301.68 2 3 0 22429 1.35

Mizoram 1156.75 2 7 0 21081 5.49

Nagaland 222.37 1 3 0 16579 1.34

Orissa 8106.4 2 18 0 155707 5.21

Punjab 316.73 0 10 0 50362 0.63

Rajasthan 9569.16 5 23 0 342239 2.79

Sikkim 2177.1 1 6 0 7096 30.68

Tamil Nadu 2847.67 5 19 0 130058 2.19

Tripura 603.62 0 4 0 10486 5.76

Uttaranchal 6514.94 6 6 2 53485 12.18

Uttar Pradesh 5631.47 1 23 0 240926 2.34

West Bengal 2748.48 5 15 0 88752 3.09

Union Territories

Andaman & Nicobar

1583.04 9 96 0 8249 19.19

Chandigarh 25.45 0 2 0 114 22.32

Dadra & Nagar Haveli

92.16 0 1 0 491 18.77

Daman & Diu 2.18 0 1 0 112 1.95

Delhi 13.20 0 1 0 1483 0.89

Lakshadweep 0.01 0 1 0 32 0.031

Pondicherry 0 0 0 0 493 0

India 156586.3 94 502 2 3287263 4.76

Summary of currently available protected areas in India

Geographical Area of India                        = 32,87,263 km 2   Forest Area of India  (FSI, 2001)              = 768,436 km 2  

Percentage of Forested Area in India's  Geographical Area                       = 23.38 %

Current Protected Area Status

National Parks                 = 94     Area Covered  = 37,591.75 km 2   Wildlife Sanctuaries        = 502    Area Covered  = 118,952.11 km 2  

Conservation Reserves  = 2      Area Covered  = 42.44 km 2   Protected Areas             = 598  Area Covered  = 156,586.3 km 2  

National Parks % of G.A.                 =   1.14   %  Wildlife Sanctuaries % of G.A.        =   3.62   %  Conservation Reserves % of G.A.   =   0.0012 %  Protected Areas % of G.A.               =  4.76    %

Tiger Reserves

Project Tiger was launched by the Government of India in the year 1973 to save the endangered species of tiger in the country.  Beginning with nine reserves in 1973-74 the number has grown up to twenty eight in 1999-2000.  These project tiger areas cover a total area of 35,747.08 sq km, which is 1.09% of the total geographical area in the country (WII, 2005). 

List of Tiger Reserves in India

Sl. No.

Tiger Reserve Total Area (sq km)

Year of Establishment

State

1. Bandhavgarh

1,161.47 1993-1994 Madhya Pradesh

2.

Bandipur

(Extension)

874.00

643.00

1973-1974

1999-2000 Karnataka

3. Bhadra 492.00 1998-1999 Karnataka

4. Bori-Satpur-Pachmarhi

1,486.00 1999-2000 Madhya Pradesh

5. Buxa 758.82 1982-1983 West Bengal

6. Corbett 1.134.00 1973-1974 Uttaranchal

7. Dampa 500.00 1995-1996 Mizoram

8.

Dudhwa

(Extension)

811.00

551.00

1987-1988

1999-2000 Uttar Pradesh

9. Indravati 2,799.00 1982-1983 Chhattishgarh

10. Kalakad-Munda n thurai

800.00 1988-1989 Tamil Nadu

11. Kanha 1,945.00 1973-1974 Madhya Pradesh

12. Manas 2,840.00 1973-1974 Assam

13. Melghat 1,618.00 1973-1974 Maharashtra

14. Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam

3,568.00 1982-1983 Andhra Pradesh

15. Namdapha

1985.23 1982-1983 Arunachal Pradesh

16. Nameri 344.00 1999-2000 Assam

17. Pakhui 861.95 1999-2000 Arunachal Pradesh

18. Palamau 928.00 1973-1974 Jharkhand

19. Panna 542.66 1994-1995 Madhya Pradesh

20. Pench 757.85 1992-1993 Madhya Pradesh

21. Pench 257.00 1998-1999 Maharashtra

22. Periyar 777.00 1978-1979 Kerala

23. Ranthambhore 825.00 1973-1974 Rajasthan

24. Sariska 800.00 1978-1979 Rajasthan

25. Simlipal 2,770 1973-1974 Orissa

26. Sunderbans 2,585.10 1973-1974 West Bengal

27. Tadoba-Andhari 626.00 1993-1994 Maharashtra

28. Valmiki 840.00 1989-1990 Bihar

Birds protected areas in India

•  Rajiv Gandhi NP (Andhra Pradesh)

•  Pobitora WS (Assam)

•  Dibru Saikhowa WS (Assam)

•  D'Ering Memorial WS (Arunachal Pradesh)

•  Pakhui WS (Arunachal Pradesh)

•  Namdapha TR (Arunachal Pradesh)

•  Shoolpaneshwar WS (Gujarat)

•  Wild Ass WS (Gujarat)

•  Great Himalayan NP (Himachal Pradesh)

•  Majhatal Harsang WS (Himachal Pradesh)

•  Kalesar WS (Haryana)

•  Eravikulam NP (Kerala)

•  Chinnar WS (Kerala)

•  Chendurang WS (Kerala)

•  Radhanagari WS (Maharashtra)

•  Blue Mountain (Phawngpui) NP (Mizoram)

•  Bhitarkanika WS (Orissa)

•  Sajjangarh WS (Rajasthan)

•  Sariska Tiger Reserve (Rajasthan)

•  Mudumalai WS (Tamil Nadu)

•  Rajaji NP (Uttaranchal)

•  Cobertt NP (Uttaranchal)

•  Buxa TR (West Bengal)

•  Jaldapara WS (West Bengal)

24 protected areas.

Books of Biosphere Reserves Negi, S.S. (1991). Handbook of National Parks, Sanctuaries, and Biosphere

Reserves in India . Indus Publishing Company, New Delhi. Koester, S. (1984). Socio-economic and cultural role of fishing in the virgin

Island Biosphere Reserve area . Island Resources Foundation. Kothri, Ashish; Pande, Pratibha; Singh, Shekhar and Variava, Dilnavaz (1989).

Management of National Parks and Sanctuaries in India: A Status Report. Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi.

 

 

Reports of Biosphere Reserves Armentano, T.V. Biosphere Reserve as a focus for research on global ecological

problems . Institute of Ecology, Indiana, USA. Report of the committee constituted by the DOE, GOI to demarcate the various

zones of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve . (1984) Department of Environment, New Delhi, India.

Biosphere Reserve and its relationship to other areas . (1979). IUCN. Krishnamurthy, K. (1984). Programme on Man And Biosphere (MAB)

establishment of Biospheres in India . Center of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu.

Lamba, B.S. (1982). Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve: Project Document 3 . Indian National Man And Biosphere Committee.

Johnson, J.M. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve: A note on Research Objectives etc. Muduamlai Sanctuary, Udhagamandalam.Biosphere Reserves: Indian Approach . Department of Environment, New Delhi.

Proposal to the DST to invite a co-operative research program at the Proposed Biosphere Reserve on the Mysore-Kerala, Wynaad Plateau. Centre for Theoretical Studies, IISC, Bangalore.

Report of the committee constituted by the DOE, GOI to demarcate the various zones of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Department of Environment, New Delhi.

Proposal for reorganizing and reorienting nature conservation and establishing Biosphere Reserve. Department of Environment.

Working group II: Biosphere Reserve criteria / administration: Present status of Biosphere Reserve in India. Department of Environment, New Delhi.

Man And Biosphere Committee: 24 th Meeting . (1983) Department of New Delhi.

Singh, S. (1982). Not on proposal for Biosphere Reserve comments . Department of Environment, New Delhi.

Namdapha Biosphere Reserve: Project Document, Man And Biosphere Reserve Programme. Department of Environment, New Delhi.

Gadgil, M. and Sukumar, R. Research priorities in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve an overview . CES, IISC, Bangalore. Gadgil, M. Biosphere Reserve: Talk on Air on September 26 th 1982 . CES, IISC, Bangalore.

Gadgil, M. To demarcate the various zones of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve . Department of Environment, New Delhi.

Karnath, K.U. Biological conservation in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve: Examples from Nagarhole National Park. Hajra, P.K. (1982).

Nanda Devi National Park (Uttar Pradesh, India): Establishment of Biosphere Reserve in India materials for project . Botanical Survey of India, West Bengal.

Guidelines for the selection of Biosphere Reserves: An Interim Report and Key . (1981). UNESCO.

Saldanha, C. J.; Ansari, R.; Daniels, R.J.R.; Easa, P.; Gopalan, R.; Nair, V.J. and Suresh, H.S. (1986). Multidisciplinary expedition to the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve: 10-18 April 1986 preliminary investigation . CES Technical Report No. 16 . CES, IISC, Bangalore.

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve Information System: Preliminary Report. CES, IISC Bangalore.

Gadgil, M.; Nair, S.S.C. and Sukumar, R. (1986) Scientific programme for the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve: Proposal for an action plan . CES Technical Report No. 37. CES, IISC, Bangalore.

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve: An overview. Envis Technical Report No. 11. Envis Centre, CES, IISC, Bangalore.

Nilgiri biosphere Reserve: Bibliography. Envis Technical Report No. 14. Envis Centre, CES, IISC, Bangalore.

Saldanha, C.J.; Ansari, R.; Daniels, R.J.R.; Easa.; Gopalan, R.; Nair, V.J. and Suresh, H.S. (1989). Multidisciplinary expedition to the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. CES, IISC, Bangalore.

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve Information System . CES, IISC, Bangalore. Biosphere Reserves: Proceedings of the first National Symposium

Udhagamandalam, 24-25 September 1986. (1987). Ministry of Environment and Forest, New Delhi.

Sarkar, Sarbani.; Suri, Saloni.; Singh, Neena. and Kothari , Ashish. (1985). Joint management of protected areas in India: Report of a Workshop. Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi.

Environmental Law Books

Wildlife Protection Society of India (2003). The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 . Professional Book Publishers, New Delhi.

P. Leelakrishnan (1999). Environmental law in India . Butterworths India, New Delhi.

CEERA Research Team (1998). Environmental Law (Documents) Vol. 1 Major Environmental Laws in India. Centre for Environmental Education, Research and Advocacy. National Law School of India University, Bangalore.

Priya Ranjan Trivedi (1996). International Environmental Laws. APH Publishing Corporation in association with the Indian Institute of Ecology and Environment, New Delhi.

Chetan Singh Mehta (1991). Environmental Protection and the Law . Ashish Publishing House, New Delhi.