biospheres reserves in india

Open Course on Environment for IAS Pre. "BiosphereReserves, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries of India"

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Biosphere Reserves, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries of India

BIOSPHERE RESERVES: A biosphere reserve is a voluntary, cooperative, conservation reserve in order to protectthe biological and cultural diversity of a region while promoting sustainable economic development. It is a place ofcooperation, education and experimentation. The origin of Biosphere Reserves goes back to the BiosphereConference organized by UNESCO in 1968. This was the first intergovernmental conference examining how toreconcile the conservation and use of natural resources. This Conference resulted in the launching of the UNESCOMan and the Biosphere (MAB) Program in 1970. One of the original MAB projects was designed to establish acoordinated World Network of sites representing the main ecosystems of the planet in which genetic resources wouldbe protected, and where research on ecosystems as well as monitoring and training work could be carried out. Thesesites were named as Biosphere Reserves.

To be a biosphere reserve, an ecosystem must be nominated by a national government and approved by MABProgram of UNESCO. Ideally, biosphere reserve must contain three elements:

Core Areas: These areas are securely protected sites for conserving biological diversity, monitoring minimallydisturbed ecosystems, and undertaking non-destructive research and other low-impact uses like education.

Buffer Zones: Buffer Zones may be used for cooperative activities compatible with sound ecological practices,including environmental education, recreation, ecotourism and applied and basic research and are locatednearby core areas.

Transition, or Cooperation, Zones: These areas may contain farms, towns, fisheries, and are the areas wherelocal communities, management agencies, scientists, non-governmental organizations, cultural groups,economic interests, and other stakeholders work together to manage and sustainably develop the area'sresources.

There are 18 Biosphere Reserves in India, and often include one or more National Parks along buffer zones that areopen to some economic uses. But interestingly, nine of the eighteen biosphere reserves are a part of the WorldNetwork of Biosphere Reserves. These are : Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve(2001), Gulf of Mannar BiosphereReserve(2001), Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve(2001), Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve(2004), Nokrek BiosphereReserve(2009), Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve(2009), Simlipal Biosphere Reserve(2008), Achanakmar-AmarkantakBiosphere Reserve (2012) and Nicobar Islands(2013).

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Biosphere reserves of India :

Great Rann of Kutch (Gujrat) : 2008 Gulf of Mannar (TamilNadu) : 1989

Sundarbans (West Bengal ) :1989

Cold Desert (Himachal Pradesh) 2009

Nanda Devi National Park (Uttarakhand): 1988

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (Tamil Nadu, Kerala andKarnataka): 1986

Dihang-Dibang ( Arunachal Pradesh): 1988

Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve ( Madhya Pradesh) : 1999

Seshachalam Hills (Andhra Pradesh) : 2010

Simlipal (Odisha) : 1994

Achanakamar Amarkantak (Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh) 2005

Manas (Assam) : 1989

Khangchendzonga (Sikkim) : 2000

Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve ( Kerala, Tamil Nadu) : 2001

Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve (Andaman and Nicobar Islands) 1989

Nokrek (Meghalaya) 1988

Dibru-Saikhowa ( Assam ) 1997

Panna (Madhya Pradesh ) 2011

NATIONAL PARKS : First National Park of India was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park, now known as JimCorbett National Park. In 1972, India enacted the Wildlife Protection Act and Project Tiger . So far, a total of 166national parks have been authorized.

A national park is a reserve of natural or semi-natural land, owned by the government, and set aside for humanrecreation and enjoyment, animal and environmental protection and restricted from most development. The firstNational Park of the world , was the United States' Yellowstone National Park established, in 1872.

List of national parks in India are as follows:


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WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES : India has over 500 wildlife sanctuaries among whom there are 28 Tiger Reserves aregoverned by Project Tiger, and are of special significance in the conservation of the tiger. Many National Parks wereinitially wildlife sanctuaries for instance, Keoladeo National Park . Wildlife sanctuaries which are of nationalimportance in order to conservation, because of some flagship faunal species, are named National WildlifeSanctuary.National Chambal (Gharial) Wildlife Sanctuary established in 1978 serves the perfect example. Followingare Wildlife sanctuaries located in different states of India.

It has taken long enough for mankind to realizethe importance of nature in day to day lives andmost importantly ,the sustenance of eco-system.Lets respect the setting up of reserved areas toprotect precious animals, birds and other speciesand protect the laws along with the considerationthat they are binding. As a fledgling step , thatwould be more than enough. Because what isotherwise seen most commonly is the dreadedmisfortunes caused by poachers and hunterswho do not care that they are neglecting the lawwhen they are killing rhinos for their horn orelephants for ivory. We must not longer let thathappen.


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biospheres reserves in india

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