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.

1. Mudumalai Sanctuary(WLS) (Also Tiger Reserve and NP)
2. Nagarhole National Park(NP) (Also Tiger Reserve),
3. Bandipur NP(Also Tiger Reserve)
4. Mukurthi National Park
5. Silent Valley NP
6. Aralam WLS
7. Siruvani Hills
8. Nilambur Hills.
9. Wayanad WLS

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)
Core 47.48 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)
Core 391 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)
Core 1700 km²

Part of WNBR

Part of delta of Ganges and Brahamaputra river system
(West Bengal).

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)
Core 845 km²

Part of WNBR

Part of Mayurbhanj district (Orissa).

Burhabalang, Palpala Bhandan, Kharkai and Deo River

Vegetation: Tropical Semi Evergreen, Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests,
Dry Deciduous Hill Forests, High Level Sal Forest, Grasslands

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)
Core 340 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)
Core 4094 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)
Core 525 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)
Core 1819 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)
Core 1828 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)
Core: 551 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)
Core: 4455 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

1. Panna National Park/Panna Tiger Reserve
2. Gangau Wildlife Sanctuary
3. Ken-Gharial Wildlife sanctuary