Context:
Second anniversary of International Biosphere Reserve Day, celebrated on November 3, annually highlights the critical importance of biosphere reserves(BR) in safeguarding our environment and promoting sustainability.
Biosphere Reserve:
- It is an international designation for representative parts of natural and cultural landscapes extending over large area of terrestrial or coastal/marine ecosystems or a combination thereof.
- BRs are living examples of how human beings and nature can co-exist while respecting each other’s needs.
- Designated by – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
- Supported by – Other UN agencies and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
- Function –
- Conservation of biodiversity and cultural diversity
- Economic development that is socio culturally and environmentally sustainable
- Logistic support underpinning development through research, monitoring education and training
World Biosphere Reserve Day is celebrated on November 3 to raise awareness on the importance of biosphere reserves and to promote their conservation and sustainable use.
Criteria for designating biosphere reserves:
- The site must contain an effectively protected and minimally disturbed core area of value of nature conservation.
- The core area should be typical of a bio-geographical unit and large enough to sustain viable populations representing all trophic levels in the ecosystem.
- The management authority to ensure the cooperation of local communities while managing and containing the conflicts.
- Areas potential for preservation of traditional tribal or rural modes of living for harmonious use of environment.
According to UNESCO, there are currently 748 biosphere reserves across 134 countries, including 22 transboundary sites.
Structure of Biosphere Reserve:
| Core Zone | Buffer Zone | Transition Zone |
| The core zone must contain suitable habitat for numerous species and may contain centres of endemism. | The buffer zone adjoins or surrounds core zone in order to protect the core in its natural condition. | The transition area is the outermost part of a biosphere reserve. |
| They often conserve the wild relatives of economic species. | The activities in this zone include restoration, demonstration sites for enhancing value addition to the resources, limited recreation, tourism, fishing, grazing, etc,. | This is usually not delimited and is a zone of cooperation where conservation knowledge and management skills are applied. |
| They represent important genetic reservoirs having exceptional scientific interest. | Research and educational activities are to be encouraged. | The activities in this zone includes settlements, crop lands, managed forests and area for intensive recreation and other economic uses. |
| A core zone being National Park or Sanctuary is protected/ regulated mostly under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. | Human activities, if natural within BR, are likely to continue if these do not adversely affect the ecological diversity. | |
| The core zone is to be kept free from human pressures external to the system. |
World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR):
- WNBR of the MAB Programme consists of a dynamic and interactive network of sites of excellence.
- Aim – To establish a scientific basis for the improvement of relationships between people and their environments.
- Role – It proposes interdisciplinary research, demonstration and training in natural resources management.
- It helps national governments with the planning and implementation of research and training programmes with technical assistance and scientific advice.
- WNBR Status –
- Leading WNBR country – Spain (53 properties)
- 1st biosphere reserve in South Asia – Hurulu Biosphere Reserve, Sri Lanka.
- No Biosphere Reserves – Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal
- India – Signatory to the landscape approach supported by UNESCO’s MAB programme
Status of biosphere reserves in India:
- Status – 18 biosphere reserves in India (12 are recognized internationally under the MAB programme)
- UNESCO Michel Batisse Award 2023 – Won by Gulf of Mannar for introducing the concept of ‘plastic checkpoints’.
- 1st biosphere reserve – Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
- Largest Biosphere reserve – Great Rann of Kutch, Gujarat
- Smallest biosphere reserve – Dibru-Saikhowa, Assam
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
Consider the following pairs:
1. Nokrek Biosphere Reserve : Garo Hills
2. Logtak (Loktak) Lake : Barail Range
3. Namdapha National Park : Dafla Hills
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2013 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None
Answer: (a)
