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Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
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- 1st of the fourteen biosphere reserves of India, was established in September 1986.
- It embraces the sanctuary complex of Wyanad, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Mudumalai, the entire forested hill slopes of Nilambur, the Upper Nilgiri plateau, Silent Valley and the Siruvani hills.
- The total area of the biosphere reserve is around 5,520 sq. km.
- The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve possesses different habitat types, unspoilt areas of natural vegetation types with several dry scrubs, dry and moist deciduous, semi- evergreen and wet evergreen forests, evergreen sholas, grasslands and swamps.
- It includes the largest known population of two endangered animal species, namely the Nilgiri Tahr and the Lion-tailed macaque.
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Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve
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- The Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve situated in Uttaranchal includes parts of Chamoli, Almora, and Pithoragarh and Bageshwar districts.
- The major forest types of the reserve are temperate.
- A few important species are silver weed and orchids like latifolie and rhododendron.
- The biosphere reserve has a rich fauna, for example the snow leopard, black bear, brown bear, musk deer, snow- cock, golden eagle and black eagle.
- Major threats to the ecosystem are the collection of endangered plants for medicinal use, forest fires and poaching.
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Sunderbans Biosphere Reserve
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- It is located in the swampy delta of the river Ganga in West Bengal.
- It extends over a vast area of 9,630 sq. km and
- Consists of mangrove forests, swamps and forested islands.
- Sunderbans is the home of nearly 200 Royal Bengal tigers.
- In the Sunderbans, the mangrove forests are characterized by Heritiera fomes, a species valued for its timber
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Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve
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- The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve covers an area of 105,000 hectares on the southeast coast of India.
- It is one of the world‘s richest regions from a marine biodiversity perspective.
- The biosphere reserve comprises 21 islands with estuaries, beaches, forests of the near shore environment, sea grasses, coral reefs, salt marshes and mangroves.
- Among the Gulf’s 3,600 plant and animal species are the globally endangered e.g. sea cow (Dugong dugon).
- Besides six mangrove species, endemic to Peninsular India are also endangered.
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