Protected areas are a cornerstone of in situ conservation and include national parks, bioreserves, and sanctuaries. They are managed areas dedicated to protecting biodiversity. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has established seven categories of protected areas and guidelines for their management. India has over 600 protected areas covering a variety of ecosystems and hosting many endangered species. These areas help maintain biodiversity through conserving habitats and genetic diversity. Biosphere reserves specifically aim to balance conservation and sustainable development through zoning of areas for strict protection and various levels of human involvement. India has established 18 biosphere reserves recognized for their unique biodiversity and ecosystems.

1. Presented By-
ALMAS TAMAKE
SIES, IIEM

2. Introduction
 Conservation is the protection, preservation,
management or restoration of wildlife and natural
resources(forest, water).
• 1st focus : Maintaining the health of the natural world ,
its fisheries, habitats, and biological diversity.
• 2nd focus : Material and energy conservation,
important to protect the natural world.
 Conservation isn’t about protecting genes, species
ecosystems ,but it is protecting the processes of life.
 Conservation can broadly classified into 2 :
1.IN SITU: “On -site conservation”
2.EX SITU: “Off-site conservation”

4. Protected Areas (PA)
 Corner stone of In- situ conservation
 Areas of land/sea especially dedicated to the protection &
maintenance of biological diversity
 PA Network may contribute to conservation targets
through the maintenance of target species & the their
habitats , as well as the conservation of natural or semi –
natural ecosystem.
 These areas are managed through legal or other effective
means.
 Eg : National parks , Bioreserves & Sanctuaries.
 The world conservation union has a key role in promoting
the establishment of PAs throughout the world.
 1948 - IUCN (International Union for Conservation of
Nature) developed standards and guidelines for PA
management.

5. IUCN PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT
CATEGORIES
 Category Ia: Strict Nature Reserve
 Category Ib: Wilderness Area
 Category II: National Park
 Category III: Natural Monument or Feature
 Category IV: Habitat/Species Management Area
 Category V: Protected Landscape/Seascape
 Category VI: Protected Area with sustainable use of
natural resources
Strict protection

7. Benefits of PA
 Maintain viable populations of all native and sub-
species.
 Maintain the number and distribution of communities
& habitats & conserve the genetic diversity of all the
present species.
 Prevent man-made introduction of alien species .
 Make it possible for species / habitats to shift in
response to environmental changes.
 India has over 600 PAs, which includes over 90
National Parks , 500 Sanctuaries & 15 Biosphere
reserves.

8. PROTECTED AREA OF INDIA
 India is one of the 17 mega diverse countries of the
world.India is home to World's largest wild tiger
population and has got unique assemblage of globally
important endangered species like Asiatic lion,asian
elephant,one horned rhinoceros,gangetic river
dolphin,snow leopard,kashmir stag,gharial,great
indian bustard etc.
 A National Board for Wildlife(NBWL),chaired by the
PM of India provides for policy frameworkfor wildlife
conservation in the country.the National Wildlife
Action Plan(2002-2016) has been
adopted;emphasizing the peoples' participation &
their support for wildlife conservation.

9.  PM is the chairperson of National Board for
Wildlife & the Minister in charge for Forest and
Wildlife is the Vice-Chairperson.
Similarly
 CM is the chairperson of State Board for Wildlife
& the Minister in charge for Forest and Wildlife is
the Vice-Chairperson.
 All the power has been given to Chief Wildlife
Warden .

10. National Parks of India
 IUCN category II
 Worldwide 6555 national parks (2006)
 First national park of the world- Yellowstone
national park,1872
 Largest National Park-Northeast Greenland
National park,1979
 There are 112 National Parks of India
(April;2002).
 India's first National Park-Jim Corbett National
Park,Uttarakhand,1936 (formerly known as
Hailey National Park)

11. Wildlife Sanctuaries of India
 IUCN category IV
 There are 515 wildlife sanctuaries in india
 41 tiger reserves ,governed by Project Tiger
 Largest sanctuary: Nagarjun sagar - srisailam tiger
reserve(A.P,Telengana)

12. Biosphere Reserves
 Bioreserves
 Bioreserves are a special category of protected
areas of land /coastal environments , wherein
people are an integral component of the
ecosystem.
 Man and Biosphere Reserve ( MAB) programme of
UNESCO formulated the concept of Biosphere
Reserves in 1975.
 It deals with the conservation of ecosystems and
the genetic resources contained there in.
 The first biosphere reserve of the world
established in 1979.
 562 reserves in 109 countries

13. Biosphere reserve zones
 A biosphere reserve is divided into 3 zones;
1.Core zone:
Which is strongly protected for the
conservation of biological diversity —
to make sure that different types of
plants and animals are safe from
human impact.
2. Buffer zone:
Surrounds the core zones and provide a space for
environmental research, recreation, and tourism.
3.Transition zone:
This area is for local communities that have a hand in
managing the resources of the area through farming,
fisheries, and other non-governmental activities.

14. Role of biosphere reserves
 A biosphere reserve preserves
a) wild population
b) life style of tribes
c) genetic resources of domesticated plants and animals.
 It helps in
1) conservation
2) promotes economic development
3) Scientific research, monitoring and education

15. Functions Of Biosphere Reserves
Fulfil 3 basic functions, which are complementary and
mutually reinforcing:
-A conservation function - to contribute to the
conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species and
genetic variation;
- A development function - to foster economic and
human development which is socio-culturally and
ecologically sustainable;
-A logistic function - to provide support for research,
monitoring, education and information exchange
related to local, national and global issues of
conservation and development.

16. Biosphere Reserves of India
1. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve - Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka
2. Nanda Devi National Park & Biosphere Reserve –Uttarakhand
3. Gulf of Mannar - Tamil Nadu
4. Nokrek – Meghalaya
5. Sundarbans - West Bengal
6. Manas – Assam
7. Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve - Andaman and Nicobar Islands
8. Simlipal – Odisha
9. Dibru-Saikhowa - Assam
10. Dihang-Dibang - Arunachal Pradesh
11. Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve - Madhya Pradesh
12. Khangchendzonga - Sikkim
13. Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve - Kerala, Tamil Nadu
14. Achanakamar – Amarkantak - Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh
15. Great Rann of Kutch - Gujarat
16. Cold Desert - Himachal Pradesh
17. Seshachalam Hills -Andhra Pradesh
18. Panna - Madhya Pradesh

18. World Network
Nine of the Eighteen biosphere reserves are a part of the
World Network of Biosphere Reserves, based on the
UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme list.
1. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve,TamilNadu,Kerala,
Karnataka,2000
2. Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, Tamil Nadu, 2001
3. Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve, [West Bengal], 2001
4. Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Uttarakhand, 2004
5. Nokrek Biosphere Reserve Meghalaya2009
6. Pachmarhi Biosphere ReserveMadhya Pradesh2009
7. Simlipal Biosphere Reserve, Odisha, 2008
8. Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve
Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, 2012
9. Nicobar Islands, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 2013

19. Potential sites for Biosphere
Reserves
 Namdapha, Arunachal
Pradesh
 Thar Desert, Rajasthan
 Little Rann of Kutch,
Gujarat
 Kavalam, Assam
 Kanha, Madhya Pradesh
 North Islands of Andaman
and Nicobar
 Tawang and West Kamang
 Abujmarh, Chhattisgarh
 Chintapalli, Andhra
Pradesh
 Lakshadweep Islands,
Lakshadweep
 Singhbhum
 Seshachallam
 Blue Mountain

20. Agasthiayamalai biosphere reserve
 State : Kerala
 Area : 1,701sq. km.
 The forest tracts of Neyyar, Peppara, Shendumey wildlife
Sancturias and Achencoil, Thenmala, Konni, Punalur,
Thiruvananthapuram Divisions and Agasthyavanam
Specil Division are included in the this reserve. This
reserve is likely to be extended to parts of Kanyakumari
and Tirunelveli districts of Tamilnadu, the
Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve and Kalakkadu wildlife
sanctuary. Forest type includes thorn, moist deciduous
and semi-evergreens. The area is rich in plant and
animal diversity.
 This Biosphere Reserve harbors the most diverse
eco-systems in Peninsular India.

21.  Flora
So far, 2000 species of flowering plants have been
reported. 30 new plant species are recorded from
this region, about 100 endemic and 50 rare. A
few examples are Aristolochia (Snake root),
Cardiospermum (Faux persilo), Ceropegia (Taper
vine), Dioscorea (Wild yam), Gloriosa (Glory
lily), Rauvolfia (Serpentine wood) and Smilax
(Laurel leaf greenbrier)
 Fauna
Threatened animal species found in this reserve are
tiger, lion-tailed macaque, great pied hornbill
and slender loris.
 Threats
The main threats are several settlements in the
existing hydel and irrigation projects, cultivation
of plantation crops and increase in the number
of pilgrims to Agastyakudam area.

22. REFERENCES Benton M .J(2001) . “ Biodiversity on land & in the sea “Geological Journal
36 ( 3 – 4 ):211-230.
 Chowdhuri, A.B. and A. Chowdhury, 1994. Mangroves of the Sundarbans.
Vol. - I: India. World Conservation, Gland. : 247 .
 Biodiversity and Protected Areas: the concept and case studies U. Grant,
S.Kratli, Y. Mahiba, C. Magnussen, G. R. Saavedra & I. Rodrigues, 1998.
 Protected Area Network in India.pdf
 Biosphere Reserves and Management in India, edited by Maikhuri, R.K.,
K.S.Rao and R.K.Rai, G.B.Pant
Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Kosi-Katarmal,
Almora, 1998.2 Biosphere Reserves
 Information Service, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of
India, 2001
 Biosphere Reserves: Proceedings of the First National Symposium,
Udhagamandalam, Government of India, 1986.
 http://www.wii.gov.in/envis/index.html

23. Thank you