Every year on November 3, the world celebrates the International Day for Biosphere Reserves.

What are Biosphere Reserves?

• Definition: Biosphere Reserves (BRs) are designated areas that seek to conserve biodiversity while promoting sustainable livelihoods for local communities.
• Purpose: They function as “learning places for sustainable development,” providing space for research, education, and conflict-free coexistence between people and ecosystems.
• Scope: BRs cover terrestrial, marine, and coastal ecosystems and serve as models for reconciling biodiversity conservation with sustainable use.
• Objectives of Biosphere Reserves:
  • In-situ Conservation: Protect biodiversity (genes → species → ecosystems) in totality.
  • Research & Monitoring: Enhance understanding of ecological processes and human–nature interactions.
  • Integrated Development: Improve the quality of life of indigenous/local communities through sustainable use.
• Governance:
  • Designated by national governments and remain under sovereign jurisdiction.
  • Internationally recognised by UNESCO under the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme.
• Each reserve functions under a three-zone model:
  • Core Zone: Strictly protected zone, providing habitat for flora and fauna, and protecting water, soil, air, and biota as a whole ecosystem. 
  • Buffer Zone: Surrounding the core zone, where people live and work in harmony with nature and functions as a laboratory for scientists to study nature, and for training and education. 
  • Transition Zone: The outermost zone, the place where communities practice socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable human activities.

About UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme

• Launched by UNESCO in 1971, the MAB Programme promotes the harmonious relationship between humans and the environment.
• It integrates natural and social sciences to enhance ecological resilience and human welfare.
• Key Objectives:
• • Assess human and natural impacts on the biosphere, particularly in the context of climate change.
  • Study ecosystem-society interactions amid loss of biodiversity and cultural heritage.
  • Ensure livable environments despite rapid urbanisation and energy consumption.
  • Promote knowledge exchange, environmental education, and capacity building across nations.
• World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR)
  • Comprises 738 sites in 134 countries (as of 2025).
  • Functions as a dynamic network of excellence, fostering international cooperation, sharing best practices, and enhancing sustainable management.
• Governance: Operates under UNESCO’s International Coordinating Council (MAB-ICC), comprising 34 Member States, including India.

Check Out UPSC CSE Books

Visit PW Store

Biosphere Reserves in India

• Total BRs: 18 (covering ~91,425 sq. km).
• UNESCO-Recognised Reserves: 13 included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) 
  • Latest Addition: Cold Desert (2025)
• Administering Agency:
  • ​​Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) through its Biosphere Reserve Division.
  • Implemented under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Biodiversity Conservation, a sub-scheme of the Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems (CNRE) programme.
• Funding Model: Central: State share – 60:40 for most states and 90:10 for Northeastern & Himalayan states.
• Global Recognition:
  • As of October 2025, India ranks 9th globally in forest area and 3rd in annual forest gain (FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025).
  • Several Indian biosphere reserves (e.g., Nilgiri, Gulf of Mannar, Sundarbans, and Nokrek) are recognized by UNESCO for excellence in integrating human-nature coexistence.

Key Features of India’s Biosphere Reserve Programme

• Community-Centric Approach: Focuses on people living in and around biosphere zones, promoting eco-friendly livelihoods, eco-tourism, and resource management.
• Livelihood Focus: 
  • Reduces pressure on ecosystems through alternative income sources.
  • Implements eco-development activities to promote local participation in conservation.
• Integration with National Programmes: Aligns with initiatives such as:
  • Project Tiger (1973) – Tiger and habitat conservation.
  • Project Elephant (1992) – Mitigating human-elephant conflict and habitat protection.
  • Green India Mission (2014) – Restoration of forest landscapes to mitigate climate change.
  • National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) – Regulation of biological resources under the Biodiversity Act, 2002.
  • Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH) – Support for state-level conservation.
  • Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) – Buffering protected areas from unsustainable development.

DOWNLOAD PDF