Biosphere Reserves
Geography · जैवमंडल रिजर्व · 15 facts
India has 18 Biosphere Reserves, 12 in UNESCO World Network
Nilgiri = first (1986) and largest BR, spans TN-Kerala-Karnataka
Biosphere Reserve has 3 zones: Core, Buffer, Transition
Gulf of Mannar (TN) = first marine BR in India, dugong found
Sundarbans (WB) = largest mangrove, Royal Bengal Tiger
Nokrek (Meghalaya) = wild citrus (orange) found here
Panna (MP) = newest UNESCO BR (2020), tiger reintroduction success
Great Nicobar = southernmost BR, leatherback turtle
Khangchendzonga (Sikkim) = named after India's highest peak
Achanakmar-Amarkantak (MP-CG) = source of Narmada and Son rivers
National Park = strictest, Wildlife Sanctuary = moderate, BR = largest with human zones
UNESCO MAB Programme manages biosphere reserves globally
Simlipal (Odisha) = melanistic (black) tigers reported
Cold Desert BR (HP) = Spiti Valley, Pin Valley, snow leopard
Seshachalam Hills (AP) = Tirupati temple, red sanders