This document discusses biosphere reserves and forest research institutes in India. It defines biosphere reserves as protected areas where people and nature coexist sustainably. India has 18 biosphere reserves that help conserve biodiversity through a core protected zone surrounded by buffer and transition zones where controlled activities are allowed. Biosphere reserves aim to balance conservation, development, and research. The document also lists several forest research institutes in India and provides references for further information.

1. Biosphere reserves, forest research
institutes
Sankrita Gaonkar
Assistant Professor in Botany
sankrita002@gmail.com

2. Contents
• Biosphere reserves
• Forest research institutes
• References

3. Biosphere reserve
• Special protected areas of terrestrial or coastal environments, where people are
integrated components of system
• Are examples of natural biomes – unique biological communities
• Concept launched in 1971 – UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB)
programme
• India – 18 biosphere reserves – rich biodiversity
• Are nominated by national government and controlled by state government

4. Objectives of Biosphere reserve:
1) A conservation function – to contribute to conservation of landscapes,
ecosystems and species variation
2) A development function – to foster economic and human development which
is socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable
3) A logistic function – to provide support for research, monitoring, education
and information exchange related to local, national and global issues of
conservation and development

5. Structure of Biosphere reserve
• Three interrelated zones:
1) Core zone – represents undisturbed
or least disturbed area of an ecosystem
2) Buffer zone – surrounds the core
zone
• Managed for research, education and
training activities
• Restriction on resource use
• Undertake special developmental
measures to enhance conservation
• Timber production, hunting, fishing,
grazing are permitted
3) Transition zone – outermost part of
biosphere reserve
• Active cooperation between reserve
management and local people
• Settlements, cropping, forestry and
recreation are permitted

6. Sacred groves
• Patches of forests that are
protected by local
communities because of
religious beliefs and
traditional rituals
• Any disturbances to forest
will offend the deity,
causing illness, natural
calamities or crop failure
• E.g., Ajobachi Rai at Keri,
Devachi Rai at Pernem

7. • There are 18 biosphere reserves in
India:
1) Cold Desert, Himachal Pradesh
2) Nanda Devi, Uttrakhand
3) Khangchendzonga, Sikkim
4) Dehang-Debang, Arunachal
Pradesh
5) Manas, Assam
6) Dibru-Saikhowa, Assam
7) Nokrek, Meghalaya
8) Panna, Madhya Pradesh
9) Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh
10) Achanakmar-Amarkantak,
Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh
11) Kachchh, Gujarat (Largest
Area)
12) Similipal, Odisha
13) Sundarban, West Bengal
14) Seshachalam, Andhra Pradesh
15) Agasthyamala, Karnataka-
Tamil Nadu-Kerala
16) Nilgiri, Tamil Nadu-Kerala
(First to be Included)
17) Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu
18) Great Nicobar, Andaman &
Nicobar Island

8. Forest Research Institutes of India
https://www.collegedekho.com/articles/forest-research-institutes-in-india/

9. References
• https://www.collegedekho.com/articles/forest-research-
institutes-in-india/
• Kumar P and Mina U. 2020. Fundamentals of ecology and
environment. 2ND Edition. Pathfinder Publication, New Delhi.
160-162