BIOSPHERE RESERVES

BIOSPHERE RESERVES

“Going beyond India’s National parks and Wildlife sanctuaries”

§  Introduction :

a.    Biosphere Reserve (BR) is an international designation by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for representative parts of natural and cultural landscapes extending over large areas of terrestrial or coastal/marine ecosystems or a combination of both.

b.    Biosphere Reserves tries to balance economic and social development and maintenance of associated cultural values along with the preservation of nature.

c.    Biosphere Reserves are thus special environments for both people and nature and are living examples of how human beings and nature can co-exist while respecting each other’s’ needs. 

    §  Criteria for Designation of Biosphere Reserve :

a.    A site must contain a protected and minimally disturbed core area of value of nature conservation.

b.    Core area must be a bio-geographical unit and should be large enough to sustain a viable populations representing all trophic levels.

c.    The involvement of local communities and use of their knowledge in biodiversity preservation.

d.    Areas potential for preservation of traditional tribal or rural modes of living for harmonious use of the environment.

    §  Structure of Biosphere Reserve :

a.    Core Areas:

(1)  It is the most protected area of a biosphere reserve. It may contain endemic plants and animals.

(2)  They conserve the wild relatives of economic species and also represent important genetic reservoirs having exceptional scientific interest.

(3)  A core zone is a protected region, like a National Park or Sanctuary/protected/regulated mostly under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. It is kept free from human interference.

 

b.    Buffer Zone:

(1)  The buffer zone surrounds the core zone and its activities are managed in this area in the ways that help in the protection of the core zone in its natural condition.

(2)  It includes restoration, limited tourism, fishing, grazing, etc.; which are permitted to reduce its effect on the core zone.

(3)  Research and educational activities are to be encouraged.

 

c.    Transition Zone:

(1)  It is the outermost part of the biosphere reserve. It is the zone of cooperation where human ventures and conservation are done in harmony.

(2)  It includes settlements, croplands, managed forests and areas for intensive recreation and other economic uses characteristics of the region.

 

Fig. Three zones that characterise a Biosphere Reserve

 

  §  Functions of Biosphere Reserves: 

     a.    Conservation:

(1)  Managing Biosphere Reserve’s genetic resources, endemic species, ecosystems, and landscapes.

(2)  It may prevent man-animal conflict e.g. death of tiger “Avni” who was shot dead when she turned man-eater

(3)  Along with the wildlife, culture and customs of tribal are also protected

 

b.    Development:

(1)  Promoting economic and human growth that is sustainable on a sociocultural and ecological level. It seeks to strengthen the three pillars of sustainable development: social, economic and protection of the environment.

 

c.    Logistic support:

(1)  Promoting research activities, environmental education, training and monitoring in the context of local, national and international conservation and sustainable development.

 

       §  International Status of Biosphere Reserves:

A.   The UNESCO has introduced the designation ‘Biosphere Reserve’ for natural areas to minimize conflict between development and conservation. Biosphere Reserves are nominated by national government which meets a minimal set of criteria under the Man and Biosphere Reserve Program of UNESCO. Globally, there are 686 biosphere reserves in 122 countries, including 20 trans-boundary sites.

B.   Man and Biosphere Programme: 

(a)  Launched in 1971, UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) is an intergovernmental scientific programme that aims to establish a scientific basis for the improvement of relationships between people and their environments.

 (b)   MAB combines natural and social sciences, economics and education to improve human livelihoods and the equitable sharing of benefits, and to safeguard natural and managed ecosystems, thus promoting innovative approaches to economic development that are socially and culturally appropriate, and environmentally sustainable.

   C.   There are total 11 biosphere reserves of India which have been             recognized internationally under Man and Biosphere Reserve program:

1.    Nilgiri

2.    Gulf of Mannar

3.    Sunderban

4.    Nanda Devi

5.    Nokrek

6.    Panchmani

7.    Similipal

8.    Achanakmar – Amarkantak

9.    Great Nicobar

10. Agasthayamala

11.  Khangchendzonga (added under Man and Biosphere Reserve program in 2018)

   §  Biosphere Conservation :

      I.  A scheme called Biosphere Reserve is being implemented by the Government of India since 1986, in which financial assistance is given in 90:10 ratio to the North Eastern Region States and three Himalayan states and in the ratio of 60:40 to other states for maintenance, improvement, and development of certain items.

     II.        The State Government prepares the Management Action Plan which is approved and monitored by the Central MAB Committee.

  

     §  In India we have 18 Biosphere Reserves and    exploring              them go beyond just exploring the National Parks they host.

    1)    Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in Tamil Nadu,       Kerala    and                      Karnataka, 1986

The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, an International Biosphere Reserve as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Key faunas are Nilgiri tahr and lion-tailed macaque. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is home to national parks such as Aralam, Mudumalai, Mukurthi, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Silent Valley, and wildlife sanctuaries such as Wayanad and Sathyamangalam.

 

Fig. Lion-Tailed Macaque in Anamalai

 

2.) Nokrek Biosphere Reserve in Meghalaya, 1988

Home to the Nokrek National Park, Nokrek Biosphere Reserve is an important biodiversity hotspot. Nokrek is one of the last remaining homes of the elusive red panda; a safe habitat for the rare stump-tailed macaque, pig-tailed macaque and hoolock gibbons. It doesn't come as a surprise that Nokrek is also an Important Bird Area.