Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve

Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve Latest News

Recently, the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve (CDBR) in Himachal Pradesh has been included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) by UNESCO.

About Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve

• It is perched high in the trans-Himalayan region.
• It spans approximately 7,770 sq. km. across the landscapes of Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti district.
• It was declared a biosphere reserve in 2009.
• Terrain: It encompasses windswept plateaus, glacial valleys, alpine lakes, and rugged high-altitude deserts.
• This is India’s first high-altitude cold desert biosphere reserve and one of the coldest and driest ecosystems in UNESCO’s WNBR.
• With this addition, India now has 13 biospheres listed in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR).
• It covers the Pin Valley National Park and its surroundings, Chandratal and Sarchu & Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Flora: It harbours 732 species of vascular plants, including 30 endemics and 157 near-endemics of the Indian Himalayas,
• This fragile cold desert ecosystem supports hardy alpine grasses, medicinal herbs, and rare stands of Willow-leaved sea-buckthorn, Himalayan birch and Persian juniper.
• Fauna: It is home to leopard, Himalayan ibex, blue sheep, Himalayan wolf, and rich bird life such as the Himalayan snowcock and golden eagle.

 Source: IE

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