Top Biosphere Reserves of India

Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve became part of World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2016. the reserve includes the Indian Ecoregions of South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests, South Western Ghats montane rain forests and Shola. It is the habitat for 2,000 varieties of medicinal plants, of which at least 50 are rare and endangered species. Rare animals include the tiger, Asian Elephant, and Nilgiri Tahr. Agastyamalai is also home to the Kanikaran, one of the oldest surviving ancient tribes in the world.Ecotourism is popular in the area. Kanikkarans are the Original tribal Settlers in Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve.

The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve was the first biosphere reserve in India established in the year 1986, located in the Western Ghats and Nilgiri Hills ranges of South India. Climbers like the black pepper and numerous herbs thrive here. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO in 2012 and includes the Mudumalai, Mukurthi, Wayanad and Bandipur national parks.

The Rann of Kutch is a very important area for critically threatened vulture species and several vulnerable species of eagles too, Banni grasslands and Chhari Dhand are the two birding hot spots in flooded grasslands of Kutch.

The Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve is a National Park and Tiger Reserve in West Bengal. Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve is densely covered by mangrove forests and one of the largest reserves for the Bengal tiger. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Sundarbans area covers 4624 sq km in India alone to incorporate a variety of bird, reptile and invertebrate species, including the salt-water crocodile. 

The Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve includes three wildlife conservation units the Bori Sanctuary, Satpura National Park and Pachmarhi Sanctuary. It is very popular with holidaymakers as it has a large number of natural sightseeing places and weather is cool. The forest-clad tabletop mountains, deep glens with snaking rivers and the vivid terrain all form part of the attraction. Pachmarhi reserve is mostly covered in forest and an important transition zone between the forests of western and eastern India.

The Panna Tiger Reserve is home to some of the best wildlife species in India and also well known for being one of the best Tiger Reserves. The forests of Panna National Park along with Ken Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining territorial divisions form a significant part of the catchment area of the Ken River which runs northeast through the park. -

The Dibru-Saikhowa Biosphere Reserve is bounded is by the Brahmaputra and Lohit rivers and situated in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia district of Assam and consists of moist mixed semi-evergreen forests, moist mixed deciduous forests, canebrakes, and grasslands.

The Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve is a National Park located in Sikkim and home to many glaciers in the park including the Zemu glacier and wild animals like musk deer, snow leopard, and Himalayan Tahr. Landslides are one of the important factors causing hindrance to the conservation of bio-resources, resulting in the loss of soil as well as restrictions in the movement of wildlife during migration.

The Dihang Dibang Biosphere Reserve is located in Arunachal Pradesh and includes Mouling National Park and Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary. Dihang-Dibang reserve is rich in wildlife rare mammals such as Mishmi takin, red coral, red panda and flying squirrels.

The Similipal Biosphere Reserve has been notified by Government of India in 1994 and a tiger reserve, national park and part of the Similipal-Kuldiha-Hadgarh Elephant Reserve popularly known as Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve. The high dependency of tribal people on the reserve for their livelihood is a problem for the sustainable management of the reserve.