World networkNine of the eighteen biosphere reserves are a part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, based on the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme list.[2][3][4]NameStatesYear

Nilgiri Biosphere ReserveTamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka2000

Gulf of Mannar Biosphere ReserveTamil Nadu2001

Sundarbans Biosphere ReserveWest Bengal2001

Nanda Devi Biosphere ReserveUttarakhand2004

Nokrek Biosphere ReserveMeghalaya2009

Pachmarhi Biosphere ReserveMadhya Pradesh2009

Simlipal Biosphere ReserveOdisha2009

Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere ReserveChhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh2012[3]

Nicobar IslandsAndaman and Nicobar Islands2013[5]

List of Biosphere ReservesIn 2009, India designated Cold Desert of Himachal Pradesh as a biosphere reserve. On September 20, 2010, the Ministry of Environment and Forests designated Seshachalam Hills as the 17th biosphere reserve. Panna (Madhya Pradesh) was scheduled to become the 18th on August 25, 2011.[2]Biosphere reserves of India (area wise)

YearNameLocationStateTypeKey FaunaArea (km)

11986Nilgiri Biosphere ReservePart of Waynad, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Mudumalai, Nilambur, Silent Valley and Anaimalai HillsTamil Nadu, Kerala and KarnatakaWestern GhatsNilgiri Tahr, Lion-tailed macaque5520

21988Nanda Devi National Park & Biosphere ReserveParts of Chamoli District, Pithoragarh District & Bageshwar DistrictUttarakhandWestern Himalayas5860

41989Gulf of MannarIndian part of Gulf of Mannar extending from Rameswaram island in the North to Kanyakumari in the South of Tamil Nadu and Sri LankaTamil NaduCoastsDugong or Sea Cow10500

31988NokrekPart of Garo HillsMeghalayaEast HimalayasRed Panda820

51989SundarbansPart of delta of Ganges and Barahamaputra river systemWest BengalGangetic DeltaRoyal Bengal Tiger9630

61989ManasPart of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamrup and Darrang DistrictsAssamEast HimalayasGolden Langur, Red Panda2837

81994SimlipalPart of Mayurbhanj districtOdishaDeccan PeninsulaGaur, Royal Bengal Tiger, Wild elephant4374

101998Dihang-DibangPart of Siang and Dibang ValleyArunachal PradeshEastern Himalaya5112

111999Pachmarhi Biosphere ReserveParts of Betul District, Hoshangabad District and Chhindwara DistrictMadhya PradeshSemi-AridGiant Squirrel, Flying Squirrel4981.72

142005Achanakamar - AmarkantakPart of Annupur, Dindori and Bilaspur districtsMadhya Pradesh, ChhattisgarhMaikala Hills3835

152008Great Rann of KutchPart of Kutch, Rajkot, Surendranagar and Patan DistrictsGujaratDesertIndian Wild Ass12454

162009Cold DesertPin Valley National Park and surroundings;Chandratal and Sarchu & Kibber Wildlife SancturaryHimachal PradeshWestern HimalayasSnow Leopard7770

122000KhangchendzongaParts of Kanchanjunga HillsSikkimEast HimalayasSnow Leopard, Red Panda2620

132001Agasthyamalai Biosphere ReserveNeyyar, Peppara and Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary and their adjoining areasKerala, Tamil NaduWestern ghatsNilgiri Tahr, Elephants1828

71989Great Nicobar Biosphere ReserveSouthern most islands of Andaman and Nicobar IslandsAndaman and Nicobar IslandsIslandsSaltwater Crocodile885

91997Dibru-SaikhowaPart of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districtsAssamEast HimalayasGolden Langur765

172010Seshachalam HillsSeshachalam Hill Ranges covering parts of Chittoor and Kadapa districtsAndhra PradeshEastern Ghats4755

182011PannaPart of Panna and Chattarpur DistrictsMadhya Pradeshcatchment area of the Ken RiverTiger, Chital, Chinkara, Sambhar and Sloth bear543

Potential sites for Biosphere ReservesFollowing is the list of potential sites for Biosphere Reserves as selected by Ministry of Forests and Environment:[6] Namdapha, Arunachal Pradesh Thar Desert, Rajasthan Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat Kavalam, Assam Kanha, Madhya Pradesh North Islands of Andaman and Nicobar Abujmarh, Chhattisgarh Chintapalli, Andhra Pradesh Lakshadweep Islands, Lakshadweep Singhbhum Seshachallam Blue Mountain Tawang and West Kamang