International Day for Biosphere Reserves on November 3

• The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) observes the International Day for Biosphere Reserves on November 3.

• The UNESCO’s Network of Biosphere Reserves comprises 797 biosphere reserves across 145 countries.

What are Biosphere Reserves?

• Biosphere reserves are “learning places for sustainable development”. 

• They are sites for testing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and managing changes and interactions between social and ecological systems, including conflict prevention and management of biodiversity.

• They are places that provide local solutions to global challenges. 

• Biosphere reserves include terrestrial, marine and coastal ecosystems. 

• Each site promotes solutions reconciling the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use.

• They are nominated by national governments and remain under the sovereign jurisdiction of the states where they are located. 

• The first biosphere reserves were designated in 1976.

• Biosphere reserves are found on every continent. except Antarctica.

• They cover approximately 7.5 million square kilometers and more than 5 per cent of the Earth's terrestrial surface.

• These sites directly benefit around 300 million people who live within these areas.

• Mata Atlantica Biosphere Reserve is the largest biosphere reserve in the world. It is located in Brazil, and covers more than 88,000 sqkm.

• Biosphere reserves are designated under the intergovernmental MAB Programme by the Director-General of UNESCO following the decisions of the MAB International Coordinating Council (MAB ICC). Their status is internationally recognised. Member States can submit sites through the designation process.

• Biosphere Reserves involve local communities and all interested stakeholders in planning and management. 

They integrate three main functions:

i) Conservation of biodiversity and cultural diversity.

ii) Economic development that is socio-culturally and environmentally sustainable.

iii) Logistic support, underpinning development through research, monitoring, education and training.

These three functions are pursued through the Biosphere Reserves’ three main zones:

1) Core Areas: It comprises a strictly protected zone that contributes to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation

2) Buffer Zones: It surrounds or adjoins the core area, and is used for activities compatible with sound ecological practices that can reinforce scientific research, monitoring, training and education.

3) Transition Area: It is where communities foster socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable economic and human activities.

• Biosphere reserves play an important scientific role, serving as a site for research and monitoring, providing valuable data and insights that can inform environmental management and policy decisions.

• Furthermore, they help in achieving global development targets such as those set by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, inter alia, on protecting and restoring significant portions of the Earth’s ecosystems by 2030.

• They also promote unique local sustainable development ideas, safeguard biodiversity, and combat climate change.

Biosphere Reserves in India

• India’s Biosphere Reserve network represents its varied ecosystems and diverse ecological heritage. 

• As per the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the country has 18 notified Biosphere Reserves, of which 13 belong to UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves. 

13 Indian sites in UNESCO’s list of biosphere reserves:

• Nilgiri - Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka

• Gulf of Mannar - Tamil Nadu

• Sunderbans - West Bengal

• Nanda Devi National Park - Uttarakhand

• Nokrek - Meghalaya

• Pachmarhi - Madhya Pradesh

• Similipal National Park - Odisha

• Achanakmar-Amarkantak - Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh

• Great Nicobar - Andaman and Nicobar Islands

• Agasthyamala - Kerala and Tamil Nadu

• Khangchendzonga - Sikkim

• Panna National Park - Madhya Pradesh

• Cold Desert Cultural Landscape of India - Himachal Pradesh.

Five biosphere reserves not in UNESCO’s list

• Manas - Assam

• Dibru-Saikhowa - Assam

• Dehang-Dibang - Arunachal Pradesh

• Great Rann of Kutch - Gujarat

• Seshachalam - Andhra Pradesh.