Encompassing windswept plateaus, glacial valleys, alpine lakes, and rugged, high-altitude lakes, India’s picturesque Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve has earned the rare accolade of being one of UNESCO’s 26 new biosphere reserves across 21 countries, the world body announced on Saturday.
The designation by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) brings the total biospheres in India’s premises listed by the body to 13.
“UNESCO designates 26 new biosphere reserves across 21 countries – the highest number in 20 years. The World Network of Biosphere Reserves now includes 785 sites in 142 countries, with an additional one million sq km of natural areas brought under protection since 2018 – equivalent to the size of Bolivia,” the world body said in a statement.
Perched high in the trans-Himalayan region, the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve – one of the coldest and driest ecosystems in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves – spans approximately 7,770 sq km across the dramatic landscapes of Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti district, said UNESCO.
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This year, six countries welcome their first biosphere reserve, while Sao Tome and Principe becomes the first state to have its entire territory designated as a biosphere reserve, the UNESCO said.
Six other countries that saw the designation of their first biosphere reserve on Saturday are Angola, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Iceland, Oman and Tajikistan.
In addition to these, new reserves have been designated in Albania, China, Ethiopia, France, Greece, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mongolia, Portugal, Saudi Arabia and Sweden.
Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Environment and Forests, said in a post on X that the decision to include India's Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves was taken at the 37th session of UNESCO's International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) held in Paris on Saturday.
"With this addition, India now proudly has 13 biospheres listed in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves, which reflects India’s commitment towards biodiversity conservation and community-led sustainable development," he said, crediting the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in making dedicated efforts towards preserving, protecting and restoring the ecosystem.
The development comes soon after two Ramsar sites in India were added to the UNESCO list, increasing the total number of Ramsar sites to 93, Yadav added.
Ramsar sites refer to those listed on the List of Wetlands of International Importance.
With UNESCO’s recognition, tourism and research on the cold desert biosphere is likely to increase.
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