Biosphere Reserves : Indian Approach

National Biosphere Reserve Programme

India has created a network of protected areas in the form of 102 National Parks, 515 Wildlife Sanctuaries and 28 Tiger Reserves and 32 Elephant Reserves. The area covered under protected area network accounts for around 5% of the total geographical area of the country. The rich biodiversity in India has given shape to variety of cultural and ethnic diversity which includes over 550 tribal communities of 227 ethnic groups spread over 5,000 forest villages.

The national Biosphere Reserve Programme was initiated in 1986 and its aims and objectives are as follows:

Aims of the Scheme

• To serve as wider base for conservation of entire range of living resources and their ecological foundations in addition to already established protected area network system
• To bring out representative ecosystems under conservation and sustainable use on a long term basis.
• To ensure participation of local inhabitants for effective management and devise means of improving livelihood of the local inhabitants through sustainable use.
• To integrate scientific research with traditional knowledge of conservation, education and training as a part of the overall management of BR.

The Core Advisory Group of Experts, constituted by Indian National MAB Committee identified and prepared a preliminary inventory of 14 potential sites for recognition as BRs in 1979. Subsequently additional BR sites were proposed by the National Committee/State Governments, Experts.

Objectives

It may be noted that BRs are not a substitute or alternative, but a re-enforcement to the existing protected areas. The objectives of the Biosphere Reserve programme, as envisaged by the Core Group of Experts, are as follows:

• To conserve the diversity and integrity of plants and animals within natural ecosystems;
• To safeguard genetic diversity of species on which their continuing evolution depends;
• To provide areas for multi-faceted research and monitoring;
• To provide facilities for education and training; and
• To ensure sustainable use of natural resources through most appropriate technology for improvement of economic well-being of the local people. 
• These objectives should be oriented in such a way that the BRs are the Units wherein the Biological, socio-economic and cultural dimension of conservation are integrated together into a realistic conservation strategy.

What are the Criteria for selection of Biosphere Reserves in India?

The criteria for selection of sites for BRs as laid down by the Core Group of Experts in 1979 are listed below:

Primary criteria

• A site that must contain an effectively protected and minimally disturbed core area of value of nature conservation and should include additional land and water suitable for research and demonstration of sustainable methods of research and management.
• The core area should be typical of a biogeographical unit and large enough to sustain viable populations representing all tropic levels in the ecosystem.

Secondary criteria

• Areas having rare and endangered species
• Areas having diversity of soil and micro-climatic conditions and indigenous varieties of biota.
• Areas potential for preservation of traditional tribal or rural modes of living for harmonious use of environment.

How are Biosphere Reserves designated in India?

At the initiative of the central/state governments, detailed study is carried out and a project report is prepared by the concerned state following the criteria adopted for designation of BRs. The land and forest being the state concerns, the respective state governments have to agree to designate the identified area as Biosphere Reserve. The Central Govt. provides financial assistance for management and research activities in these BRs. The Management of Biosphere Reserves is the responsibility of the concerned State/UT with necessary technical input and training facilities provided by the Central Government.

How Biosphere Reserves are different from protected areas such as National Parks (NP) and Wildlife Sanctuaries(WS)?

Biosphere Reserves in India are not intended to replace existing protected areas but it widens the scope of conventional approach of protection and further strengthens the Protected Area Network. Existing legally protected areas (National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuary, Tiger Reserve and reserve/protected forests) may become part of the BR without any change in their legal status. On the other hand, inclusion of such areas in a BR will enhance their national value. It, however, does not mean that Biosphere Reserves are to be established only around the National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.

However, the Biosphere Reserves differ from protected areas due to their emphasis on :

• Conservation of overall biodiversity and landscape, rather than some specific flagship species, to allow natural and evolutionary processes to continuewithout any hindrance. 
• Different components of BRs like landscapes, habitats, and species and land races. 
• Developmental activities, and resolution/mitigation of conflicts betweendevelopment and conservation,
• Increase in broad-basing of stakeholders, especially local people’sparticipation and their Training, compared to the features of scheme on Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks.
• Sustainable environment friendly development, and sustained coordination amongst different development organizations and agencies.
• Research and Monitoring to understand the structure and functioning of ecological system and their mode of reaction when exposed to human intervention.

How many Biosphere reserves are there in India?

According to the Annual report 2010-2011 of Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt of India, there are at present 17 Biosphere Reserves in the country as shown in the following table: