Himachal Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve enters UNESCO’s WNBR

 Himachal Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve enters UNESCO’s WNBR

Why in News?

• Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve (Himachal Pradesh) has been included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) at the 37th Session of MAB-ICC (Paris, 2025).

• With this, India now has 13 biosphere reserves in the WNBR.

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Key Facts (Prelims Friendly)

• Location: Lahaul-Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh.

• Total Area: 7,770 sq km.

• Altitude Range: 3,300 m – 6,600 m.

• Core Zone: 2,665 sq km

• Buffer Zone: 3,977 sq km

• Transition Zone: 1,128 sq km

• Protected Areas Included:

  • Pin Valley National Park

  • Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary

  • Chandratal Wetland

  • Sarchu Plains

• Flagship Species: Snow Leopard.

• Other fauna: Himalayan ibex, Himalayan wolf, >800 blue sheep.

• Flora: 655 herbs, 41 shrubs, 17 tree species (14 endemics, 47 medicinal plants – important for Sowa Rigpa medicine).

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Socio-Cultural Aspects

• Population ~12,000.

• Livelihoods: Yak & goat herding, barley & pea farming, Tibetan medicine.

• Resource regulation: Buddhist monastic traditions & community councils.

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Global Context

• WNBR total sites: 785 in 142 countries.

• 2025 addition: 26 new sites across 21 countries (largest in 20 years).

• Since 2018 → 1 million sq km added (≈ Bolivia).

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Significance

• For India:

  • 13 sites in WNBR → reflects India’s biodiversity conservation efforts.

  • Boosts eco-tourism, climate resilience, & global research collaborations.

• For the World:

  • Conservation of one of the coldest & driest high-altitude ecosystems.

  • Recognition of traditional knowledge systems (Sowa Rigpa).

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UPSC Prelims Pointers

1. Flagship species of Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve → Snow Leopard.

2. UNESCO’s biosphere reserves come under → Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme.

3. India’s total biosphere reserves → 18; in WNBR → 13.