Environment 6 November 2026

Biosphere Reserves – India's 18, UNESCO's 13 and Tamil Nadu's three

Five key points

1. Concept: biosphere reserves come from UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme (1971) – areas that combine conservation of ecosystems with sustainable use by local people, plus research and education.
2. Three zones: the core zone is legally protected and kept largely undisturbed; the buffer zone around it allows research, education and other regulated activities; the outer transition zone holds villages, farms and sustainable economic activity.
3. India: 18 biosphere reserves have been notified; 13 are in UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (1986) was the first; the Great Rann of Kutch (Gujarat) is the largest. A biosphere reserve is a programme designation – it is not a category under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, though its core zone usually contains national parks or sanctuaries.
4. Tamil Nadu has three, all in UNESCO's network: Nilgiri (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka; UNESCO 2000), Gulf of Mannar (marine, between India and Sri Lanka; notified 1989, UNESCO 2001) and Agasthyamalai (Tamil Nadu and Kerala; notified 2001, UNESCO 2016).
5. Worldwide: after UNESCO added 14 new sites in June 2026, the World Network has 797 biosphere reserves in 145 countries. The International Day (3 November) was proclaimed by UNESCO's General Conference in 2021 and first observed in 2022.

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Sources: static.pib.gov.in · www.newsonair.gov.in · www.downtoearth.org.in · elnuevodiario.com.do · www.wanderlustmagazine.com · webarchive.unesco.org · www.moew.government.bg · www.unesco.org · moef.gov.in