Online Learning Portal
DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS
02 April, 2021
5 Min Read
This topic helps you to cover:
Salient Features of Biosphere Reserves:
|
Zonation in Biosphere Reserves
Qn. The most important strategy for the conservation of biodiversity together with traditional human life is the establishment of (2014)
Solution (a)
Main characteristics of Biosphere Reserves (BSR)
|
Qn. Which one of the following is not a site for the in-situ method of conservation of flora? (2011)
Solution (b)
Map Showing Biosphere Reserves of the Country
Sl. No. |
Reserve & State |
Physiography & Vegetation |
Bio Diversity & Indigenous Tribes |
Wildlife Protected Areas |
1 |
Nilgiri (1986)
Part of World Network of Bio sphere Reserve (WNBR)
Parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka.
Area: 5520 (in km2), largest in Tamil Nadu Core area: 1250 km² |
Rivers: Bhavani, Moyar, Kabini (tribuatries of Cauvery), Chaliyar, Punampuzha etc.
Vegetation : In TN, Kerala: Moist Evergreen, Semi-Evergreen, Thorn, Savannah Woodland, Montane Sholas and Grassland In Kar: dry deciduous forests and thorn forests.
|
Key Fauna: Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri langur, Lion tailed macaque, Other: Bonnet macaque, Malabar giant squirrel and Nilgiri marten.
Birds: Nilgiri pipit, Nilgiri laughing thrush, Nilgiri flycatcher, great Hornbill, and Malabar grey hornbill.
Tribal groups like the Badagas, Todas, Kotas, Irulas, Kurumbas,Chola Naikans are native to the reserve. |
10. Sathyamangalam WLS and TR.
Quick Fact: About 80% of flowering plants reported from Western Ghats occur in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve |
2 |
Nanda Devi (1988) Part of WNBR
Uttarakhand
Area: 5860 (in km2) Core Area: 712.12 km² |
Rivers : Rishi Ganga
Vegetation : Mixed temperate and subalpine
Flora Fir, birch, rhododendron and juniper are the main flora. |
Climate: Dry with low yearly precipitation.
Fauna: Himalayan tahr, Brown bear, Koklas pheasant
Indigenous Tribes: Bhotias
|
Nanda Devi NP, Valley of Flowers National Park
Entire area is located within the Western Himalayas Endemic Bird Area (EBA)
|
3 |
Nokrek (1988)
Meghalaya (part of Garo Hills)
Part of WNBR
Area : 820 (in km2) |
Rivers : Ganol, Dareng and Simsang
Vegetation: Evergreen and semi-evergreen deciduous forests
|
Climate : Tropical Monsoon type.
Fauna: Stump tailed macaque, Pig-tailed macaque, Giant flying squirrel
Indigenous Tribes : Garo Bania, Hajjons |
Nokrek National Park
|
4 |
Great Nicobar (1989) Anadaman & Nicobar Islands
Part of WNBR
Area: 885 (in km2) Core Area: 705 km²
Southern most islands of Andaman And Nicobar (A&N Islands).
|
Rivers: Galathea, Alexandria, Amrit kaur and Dagmar
Vegetation: Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, and located in the Indomalayan realm.
Flora: Screw pine, Nipa palm, Ceylon iron wood.
|
Climate: Tropical Monsoon
Fauna: The Nicobar long-tailed macaque, Saltwater crocodile, Giant leatherback sea turtle, Malayan box turtle, Nicobar tree shrew, Reticulated python and the Giant robber crab or Coconut crab.
Indigenous inhabitants: Nicobarese and Shompen |
Larger Campbell Bay National Park on the northern part of the island, and Galathea National Park in the southern interior.
|
5 |
Gulf of Mannar (1989)
Tamil Nadu
Part of WNBR
Area : 10500 (in km2)
Indian part of Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka (Tamil Nadu) |
The Malvathu Oya (Malvathu River) of Sri Lanka and the estuaries of Thamirabarani River and Vaippar River of South India drain into the Gulf.
Vegetation: Tropical Dry Broad-leafed forest, seaweed communities, sea grass communities , coral reefs, salt marshes and mangrove forests.
Endemic Flora: Endemic Flora : Morning glory, Jatropha, Halophila grass |
Climate both south-west and north-east monsoon
Fauna: Sea Cow Dugong, Sea Anemone, Sea fans
|
First marine Biosphere Reserve in India Falls within the Indo-Malayan realm |
6 |
Manas (1989) Assam
Area : 2837 (in km2)
NOT Part of WNBR
Part of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamrup and Darrang Districts |
Part of delta of Ganges and Brahamaputr river system (West Bengal). Manas-Beki system
Vegetation: Semi-evergreen forests mixed moist and dry deciduous forests, alluvial grasslands, creeper swamp forest, Eastern seasonal Swamp Forest, Cane and bamboo brakes
Endemic Flora: Catechu tree, Sisoo, White siris |
Climate: Tropical Monsoon
Endemic Fauna: Pygmy hog, Golden lungur , Assam roofed turtle
Indigenous inhabitants: Bodos and Adhivasi tribes |
The reserve has six national and international designations (i.e. World Heritage Site, National Park, Tiger Reserve, Biosphere Reserve, Elephant Reserve and Important Bird Area) |
7 |
Sunderbans (1989) West Bengal
Area : 9630 (in km2)
Part of WNBR
Part of delta of Ganges and Brahamaputra river system |
Meghna
Vegetation Tidal Swamp Forests, Saline Water Type Mixed Forests, Brackish Water Type Mixed Forests, Palm Swamp Type
Flora: Sundari, Passur, Nypa |
Climate: Tropical Monsoon
Fauna: Bengal tiger, Bengal monitor lizard, Salvator lizard Aquatic: Gangetic dolphin, estuarine crocodile, river terrapin, olive ridley turtle,
Indigenous inhabitants: Chandra-bandhe tribes. |
Sundarban NP /Sundarban tiger Reserve Sajnekhali WLS Lothian WLS Haliday WLS
|
8 |
Simlipal (1994) Odisha
Area : 4374 (in km2)
Part of WNBR
Part of Mayurbhanj district (Orissa). |
Burhabalang, Palpala Bhandan, Kharkai and Deo River
Vegetation: Tropical Semi Evergreen, Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests,
Endemic Flora: Coix grass |
Climate: Tropical Monsoon Rainfall:150- 200 cm spread over about 135 days.
Fauna: Red breasted falconet, Slender billed scimitar babbler, Ruddy mongoose
Indigenous inhabitants: Kolha, Santal, Bhumija, Bhatudi, Gond, Khadia, Lodha, Ho and Makadia |
1.Similipal Tiger Reserve, 2.Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary 3.Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary The biosphere reserve has the largest zone of Sal in all of India. |
9 |
Dibru-Saikhowa (1997) Assam
Area : 765 (in km2)
NOT Part of WNBR
Part of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia Districts (Assam) |
Rivers: Dibru, Bramhaputra
Vegetation: semi wet evergreen forests, tropical moist deciduous forest, bamboo, swamp forests, cane brakes and grasslands.
Endemic Flora: Rauvolfia (Sarpagandhi), Benteak, Livistona (orchid) |
Climate: Tropical monsoon
Endemic Fauna: White winged wood duck, Hollock-gibbon, Wild buffalo
Indigenous inhabitants: Mishing, Muttock, Moran, Sonowal Kachari. |
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park (was declared wildlife sanctuary in 1986) |
10 |
Dehang-Dibang (1998) Arunachal Pradesh
Area : 5111 (in km2)
NOT Part of WNBR
Part of Siang and Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh. |
Dehang, Debang and their tributaries
Vegetation: Sub-tropical broad-leaved, sub-tropical pine, temperate broad-leaved, temperate conifer, sub-alpine woody shrub, alpine meadow, bamboo brakes and grassland. Endemic Flora: Tree fern, Begonia, Lady’s slipper orchid |
Climate : subtropical, temperate, alpine
Fauna: Mishmi takin, red goral, musk deer, Red panda, Himalayan black bear, Green pit viper.
Indigenous inhabitants: Adi, Buddhist and Mishmi tribes |
1. Mouling National Park 2. Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary |
11 |
Panchmarhi (1999) Madhya Pradesh
Area : 4926 (in km2)
Part of WNBR
Parts of Betul, Hoshangabad and Chindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh. |
Denwa
Vegetation: Moist deciduous, Dry deciduous, Sub tropical hill forest.
Endemic Flora: Sal tree, Selaginella fern, Palimorpha bamboo
|
Climate: Tropical Monsoon climate
Endemic Fauna: Barasinga, Wild buffalo, Red jungle fowl
Indigenous inhabitants: Gond, Korku and Bharia
|
1.Bori Sanctuary, 2.Pachmarhi Sanctuary 3. Satpura National Park These altogether has also been notified as Satpura Tiger Reserve Pachmarhi BR area is often recognized as “Genetic Express Highway” linking two biological hot spots of the country viz. Eastern Himalayas and Western Ghats, also as confluence of northern and southern type of vegetation. |
12 |
Khangchendzonga (2000) Sikkim
Area : 2619 (in km2)
Part of WNBR
Parts of Khangchendzonga hills and Sikkim.
|
River Teesta
Vegetation: Sub-tropical to alpine- Himalayan wet temperate forest, and temperate broad leaved forest, mixed coniferous forest, sub-alpine a forests and dry alpine forest
Endemic Flora: Anemone, Sikkim Rhododendron, Sikkim Mahonia |
Climate: Varies with altitude, aspect
Fauna: Tibetan sheep, Musk deer, Monal pheasant, Snow patridge
Indigenous inhabitants: lepchas |
Kanchenjunga National Park India’s first Mixed Heritage Site |
13 |
Agasthyamalai (2001) Kerala, Tamil Nadu
Area : 3500 (in km2)
Part of WNBR Part of “Hottest biodiversity hotspots” |
Tambraparani
Vegetation: Thorn moist deciduous and semi-evergreens
Endemic Flora: Rudraksha tree, Black plums, Gaub tree, Wild dhaman |
Climate: Tropical Monsoon
Endemic Fauna: Lion-tailed macaque, Slender loris, Great pied hornbill
Indigenous inhabitants: Kani Tribe |
1.Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary 2.Peppara Wildlife sanctuary 3.Shendumey wildlife Sanctuary 4. Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.
|
14 |
Achanakamar-Amarkantak (2005) States of Madhya Pradesh(Anuppur and Dindori districts) and upto 70% of BSR in Chhattisgarh(Bilaspur district)
Area : 3831 (in km2)
Part of WNBR |
Rivers: Narmada, Johilla and Sone,
Vegetation: Tropical deciduous . Further classified into Northern Tropical Moist Deciduous and Southern Dry Mixed Deciduous forests |
Climate: Tropical Monsoon type.
Fauna: Tigers, panthers, gaur, Chitals, blackbuck, giant squirrels, barking deers, chinkara, foxes, Jackals, wild boar etc.,
Indigenous inhabitants: Madia, Mudia, Gurva, Agariya and Rajgond. Other tribes are Baigas, Kol, Kanwar and Pradhans |
It’s a BSR and TR
Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary is located inside the sanctuary
|
15 |
Great Rann of Kachchh(GRK) (2008) Gujarat
Area : 12454 (in km2)
NOT Part of WNBR
Part of Kachchh, Rajkot, Surendra Nagar and Patan Civil Districts of Gujarat State |
Rivers: Luni, Rupen, West Banas drains into the area
Flora: mixed scrub, thorn, savannah type of vegetation, along with Sand resistant psammophytes and salinity tolerant halophytes exist here. Mangroves in the eastern border of Banni grassland, inside the GRK a place locally known as Shrawan Kavadia |
Climate: Arid, Desert like conditions
Fauna: Indian wild ass, Greater and Lesser Flamingos
Indigenous inhabitants: Maldhari |
1.Kachchh Desert Sanctuary 2.Wild Ass Sanctuary
Two major ecosystems: Great Rann of Kachchh (GRK) and Little Rann of Kachchh (LRK) |
16 |
Cold Desert (2009) Himachal Pradesh
Area : 7770 (in km2)
NOT Part of WNBR
Covers areas of Pin valley, Chandrabhaga, Spiti. |
Vegetation: Alpine Vegetation
Flora: Herbs, shrub species
|
Climate: Cold, harsh climate with low mean annual rainfall-creating desert like conditions
Fauna: Tibetan gazzle, red fox, weasel, snow cock, snow leopard, ibex, marmot, griffon, golden eagle., etc |
1. Pin Valley National Park 2. Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary 3. Chandratal Wildlife Santuary 4. Sarchu Wildlife Sanctuary |
17 |
Seshachalam Hills (2010)
Area : 4756 (in km2)
NOT Part of WNBR
Chittoor and Kadapa districts of AP
|
Rivers : Kunderu
Vegetation: Both dry and Moist deciduous Type
Endemic Flora: Red Sanders |
Climate: tropical Monsoon
Fauna: Jungle cat, Great Mouse Deer, golden Gekos
Indigenous Tribes: Yanadis |
1. Sri Venkateswara National Park 2. Sri Venkateshwara wildlife Sanctuary |
18 |
Panna (2011)
Area : 2999 (in km2)
Madhya Pradesh (Part of Panna and Chhattarpur districts in Madhya Pradesh)
NOT Part of WNBR
|
Rivers: Ken
Vegetation: Tropical Dry Deciduous Teak Forest, Dry Deciduous Scrub Forest, Boswellia Forest, Dry Bamboo Grasses.
Panna represents the northern boundary of the natural distribution of teak, and the eastern limits of teak-kardhai mixed forests. |
Climate: semi-Arid to Dry Sub-humid
Fauna: Tiger, chinkara, , tree shrew, long snouted crocodile, mugger
Indigenous Tribes: Raj Gond and Saur Gond |
|
Threats :
|
1. Three of the following criteria have contributed to the recognition of Western Ghats-Sri Lanka and Indo-Burma regions as hotspots of biodiversity: (2011)
Which three of the above are correct criteria in this context?
Solution (c)
2. Two important rivers — one with its source in Jharkhand (and known by a different name in Odisha), and another, with its source in Odisha — merge at a place only a short distance from the coast of Bay of Bengal before flowing into the sea. This is an important site of wildlife and biodiversity and a protected area.
Which one of the following could be this?(2011)
Solution (a)
3. A sandy and saline area is the natural habitat of an Indian animal species. The animal has no predators in that area but its existence is threatened due to the destruction of its habitat. Which one of the following could be that animal? (2011)
Solution (b)
4. The Himalayan Range is very rich in species diversity. Which one among the following is the most appropriate reason for this phenomenon?(2011)
Solution (b)
5. Consider the following areas:(2012)
Which of the above are Tiger Reserves?
Solution (b)
6. Which one of the following groups of animals belongs to the category of endangered species?(2012)
Solution (a)
7. Consider the following : (2012)
Which of the above are naturally found in India?
Solution (b)
Source: ENVIS portal
Recently, Prime Minister announced Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana under which 1 crore households will get rooftop solar power systems. India’s Status of Current Solar Capacity India currently stands at 4th place globally in solar power capacity. As per Ministry of New an
The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010 (FCRA) registration of two prominent non-governmental organisations (NGOs) — Centre for Policy Research (CPR) and World Vision India (WVI) have been cancelled this month. What is FCRA? Key provisions of FCRA, 2010 Key aspects Description
Voice clone fraud has been on the rise in India. AI voice cloning – It is the process of creating a synthetic replica of a person’s voice through machine learning and speech synthesis technology.It is called as voice deepfakesor audio deepfakes. Objective – To achieve a high level of na
Steps taken by India to promote Science Communication Publications and Information Directorate (PID) - An organisation under Council of Science and Industrial Research (CSIR) established in 1951 for publishing and disseminating scientific information in India. National science magazines- The PI
Universal Basic Income (UBI) can strengthen welfare architecture and unlock the nation’s latent demographic potential. UBI - It is an income support mechanism typically intended to reach all or a very large portion of the population regardless of their earnings or employment status. Objective- To provide enough to co
Our Popular Courses
Module wise Prelims Batches
Mains Batches
Test Series