New Delhi, November 4, 2025– India joined the global community in celebrating the International Day of Biosphere Reserves, reaffirming its commitment to preserving biodiversity while promoting sustainable livelihoods. With 18 designated biosphere reserves covering 91,425 square kilometers—13 of which are recognized by UNESCO India continues to set a strong example of harmony between nature and human progress.
India Expanding Green Footprint
India ranks ninth globally in forest area and third in annual forest gain, according to the FAO’s 2025 report. The inclusion of the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve this year further highlights India’s growing international conservation profile. To strengthen its efforts, the government has doubled its biodiversity conservation budget from ₹5 crore in 2024-25 to ₹10 crore in 2025-26.
The country’s biosphere reserve program, managed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), operates under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a 60:40 funding ratio between the Centre and States, and 90:10 for North Eastern and Himalayan regions. The focus remains on integrating biodiversity conservation with sustainable community development.
What Are Biosphere Reserves?
Biosphere reserves are special areas designated by national governments to protect ecosystems while supporting sustainable human activities. They serve as “living laboratories” for testing innovative models of coexistence between humans and nature. These reserves include terrestrial, coastal, and marine ecosystems, ensuring that conservation goals go hand in hand with socio-economic development.
Globally, more than 260 million people live within biosphere reserves that collectively protect over seven million square kilometers an area nearly as vast as Australia.
UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Programme
India’s biosphere reserves are part of UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme, which seeks to balance conservation with development by promoting research, education, and cooperation across nations. The World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) serves as a global model for environmental excellence, bringing together countries to share best practices and foster sustainable development.
Through this programme, biosphere reserves contribute to understanding how climate change, biodiversity loss, and urbanization affect both ecosystems and human societies. They also encourage eco-friendly economic models and environmental education to ensure long-term sustainability.
Empowering Communities, Protecting Nature
A key feature of India’s biosphere reserve strategy is community participation. Local populations play an active role in eco-development and livelihood programs that reduce pressure on core forest areas. By supporting handicrafts, organic farming, eco-tourism, and sustainable resource management, these initiatives ensure that conservation becomes a shared responsibility.
Projects like Project Tiger, Project Elephant, and the Green India Mission work in tandem with biosphere reserves, forming an integrated framework for ecological protection and community welfare.
A Vision for the Future
India’s biosphere reserves exemplify how biodiversity protection can coexist with human development. They are symbols of resilience, where environmental balance and social growth merge seamlessly. As the world faces growing ecological challenges, India’s model offers a reminder that sustainable living is not just a policy choice it’s a way forward for humanity and the planet alike.