1. Biosphere Reserve And
World Heritage sites
Biosphere- Narrow zone that harbours life, limited to the
water of Earth, a fraction of crust and the lower region of
surrounding air.
Heritage sites-A World Heritage Site is a landmark or
area which is selected by the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as having
cultural, historical, scientific or other form of significance, and
is legally protected by international treaties. The sites are
judged important to the collective interests of humanity.
SHIV
2. Biosphere Reserve
Biosphere reserve a
special category of
protected areas of
land and/or costal
environments,
where people are an
integral components
of the system.
3. • Biosphere reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal
ecosystems promoting solutions to reconcile the conservation of
biodiversity with its sustainable use. They are internationally
recognized, nominated by national governments and remain
under sovereign jurisdiction of the states where they are located.
• UNESCO- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) was created on November 16, 1945.
• The concept of biosphere reserve was launched in 1971 as a part
of UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere programme.
• One of the original MAB projects consisted in establishing a
coordinated World Network of sites representing the main
ecosystems of the planet in which genetic resources would be
protected, and where research on ecosystems as well as
monitoring and training work could be carried out. These sites
were named as "Biosphere Reserves”.
4. • World’s first Biosphere reserve was established in
1979.
• As of 2016 the total number of biosphere reserve
in the world are 669.
NOOSA BIOSPHERE RESERVE (AUSTRALIA)
5. • The NILGIRI BIOSPHERE
RESERVE was the first
biosphere reserve in INDIA
established in the year 1986.
It is located in the Western
Ghats and includes 2 of the
10 bio geographical
provinces of India.
• Now in INDIA there are 18
biosphere reserves.
• The 18th biosphere reserve of
INDIA is Panna established in
2011, located in Madehya
Pradesh.
• Panna is a smallest
biosphere reserve in INDIA.
6. Name and Location of Indian Biosphere Resereves
S.N Name of the Biosphere reserve
and total geographical area(km2
)
Date of
Notification
Location (State)
1 Nilgiri(5520) 01.08.1986 Tamil Nadu, Kerala,
Karnataka
2 Nanda Devi(5860.69) 18.01.1988 Uttrakhand
3 Nokrek(820) 01.09.1988 Meghalaya
4 Manas (2837) 14.03.1989 Assam
5 Sunderbans(9630) 29.03.1989 West Bengal
6 Gulf of Mannar (10500) 18.02.1989 Tamil Nadu
7 Great Nicobar(885) 06.01.1989 A and N Island
8 Similipal(4374) 21.06.1994 Orissa
9 Dibru-Saikhowa(765) 28.07.1997 Assam
10 Dehang Debang(5111.5) 02.09.1998 Arunachal Predesh
11 Kanchanjunga(2619.92) 07.02.2000 Sikkim
12 Pachmari(4926.28) 03.03.1999 MP
13 Agasthyamalai(3500.36) 12.11.2001(30.03.200
5)
Tamli Nadu
14 Achanakmar Amarkantak (30.03.2005) MP
15 Rann of Kuchh(12454) 2008 Gujarat
16 Cold Desert(7770) 2009 Himachal Pradesh
17 Seshachalam Hills(4755) 2010 Andhra Pradesh
18 Panna(2998.98) 2011 MP
7. Three zones, one biosphere reserve
• Biosphere reserves have three interrelated zones that aim to fulfill
three complementary and mutually reinforcing functions:
• The core area(s) comprises a strictly protected ecosystem that
contributes to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species
and genetic variation.
• The buffer zone surrounds or adjoins the core areas, and is used
for activities compatible with sound ecological practices that can
reinforce scientific research, monitoring, training and education.
• The transition area is the part of the reserve where the greatest
activity is allowed, fostering economic and human development
that is socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable.
8. Objectives of Biosphere reserve
Each biosphere reserve is intended to fulfil three basis
functions, which are complementary and mutually reinforcing:
• A conservation function – to contribute to the conservation of
landscapes, ecosystems and species variation.
• A development function- to foster economic and humen
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 (UNESCO,2005).
9. World Heritage Site
• A World Heritage Site must be an already classified
landmark.
• Having special cultural or physical significance.
• It may signify a remarkable accomplishment of
humanity, and serve as evidence of our intellectual
history on the planet.
• Under certain conditions listed sites obtain funds from
the world heritage fund.
• A total of 1,092 World Heritage Sites (845 cultural, 209
natural, and 38 mixed properties) exist across 167
countries, There are 195 countries in the world today.
10. Italy (Rome) 54 sites
China (Beijing) 53 sites
Spain (Madrid) 47 sites
France (Paris) 44 sites
Germany (Berlin) 44 sites
India(New Delhi) 37 sites
Mecxico (Mexico City) 35 sites
List of some important sites
11. Selection criteria
• “Represents a masterpiece of human creative genius and cultural significance"
• “Exhibits an important interchange of human values, over a span of time, or
within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or
technology, monumental arts, town-planning, or landscape design"
• “To bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a
civilization which is living or which has disappeared"
• “Is an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural, or technological
ensemble or landscape which illustrates a significant stage in human history"
• “Is an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-
use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture, or human
interaction with the environment especially when it has become
vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change"
• “Is directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions,
with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of
outstanding universal significance"
Cultural criteria
12. Natural criteria
• "contains superlative natural phenomena or areas of
exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance"
• "is an outstanding example representing major stages of
Earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-
going geological processes in the development of landforms,
or significant geomorphic or physiographic features"
• "is an outstanding example representing significant on-going
ecological and biological processes in the evolution and
development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine
ecosystems, and communities of plants and animals"
• "contains the most important and significant natural habitats
for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those
containing threatened species of outstanding universal value
from the point of view of science or conservation"
