{"id":65473,"date":"2025-09-28T12:05:02","date_gmt":"2025-09-28T06:35:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=65473"},"modified":"2025-09-29T17:35:31","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T12:05:31","slug":"cold-desert-biosphere-reserve","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/cold-desert-biosphere-reserve\/","title":{"rendered":"Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve &#8211; UNESCO Recognition"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Biosphere Reserve Latest News<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve in Himachal Pradesh has been included in UNESCO\u2019s World Network of Biosphere Reserves, making it India\u2019s 13th site on the global list.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Introduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a significant recognition of India\u2019s conservation efforts, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/united-nations-educational-scientific-and-cultural-organization-unesco\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UNESCO<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has designated the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve in Himachal Pradesh as part of its prestigious <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/the-international-day-for-biosphere-reserves\/#:~:text=The%20World%20Network%20of%20Biosphere,network%20of%20sites%20of%20excellence.\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">World Network of Biosphere Reserves<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (WNBR).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This inclusion marks a global acknowledgement of the ecological, cultural, and scientific importance of the fragile Trans-Himalayan ecosystem.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With this addition, India now has <\/span><b>13 biosphere reserves listed under UNESCO<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, highlighting the country\u2019s commitment to biodiversity protection and sustainable development.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>About the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve spans 7,770 sq. km. across Himachal Pradesh\u2019s <\/span><b>Lahaul-Spiti district<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Situated at altitudes ranging from 3,300 to 6,600 meters, the region represents one of the coldest and driest ecosystems in the world.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It covers landscapes such as windswept plateaus, glacial valleys, alpine lakes, and high-altitude deserts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The reserve integrates the Pin Valley National Park, Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandratal Wetland, and the Sarchu plains, making it a hub of biodiversity and cultural heritage.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is divided into three zones: core (2,665 sq. km), buffer (3,977 sq. km), and transition (1,128 sq. km), to balance conservation goals with sustainable community practices.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Biodiversity and Cultural Richness<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Cold Desert is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It harbours 732 vascular plant species, including 30 endemics and 47 medicinal herbs crucial to the traditional Sowa Rigpa (Amchi) healing system.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among its iconic fauna are the <\/span><b>snow leopard<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>Himalayan ibex<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>blue sheep<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>Himalayan wolf<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and several bird species like the <\/span><b>golden eagle<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Himalayan snowcock<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Around 12,000 residents inhabit scattered villages across the reserve.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They continue to practice traditional pastoralism, yak and goat herding, and small-scale farming of barley and peas.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The communities also maintain ancient Tibetan herbal medicine traditions, often guided by Buddhist monasteries and local councils that regulate the use of alpine resources.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Global and National Significance<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The UNESCO designation underscores the urgent need to protect fragile Himalayan ecosystems, which face mounting challenges from climate change and unchecked tourism.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It also elevates Himachal\u2019s cold desert to global prominence, ensuring international cooperation in conservation, eco-tourism, and climate research.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The recognition came during the 37th session of UNESCO\u2019s International Coordinating Council of the <\/span><b>Man and the Biosphere (MAB)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in Paris.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Globally, UNESCO has added 26 new biosphere reserves across 21 countries this year, the highest number in two decades, expanding WNBR to 785 sites in 142 countries.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>India\u2019s Growing Biosphere Network<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the addition of the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve, India\u2019s tally of UNESCO-recognised biospheres has reached 13.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This reflects the country\u2019s broader strategy to align conservation with sustainable community development.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s biospheres now include diverse ecosystems, from the Nilgiri and Sundarbans to the Great Nicobar and Pachmarhi.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Environment Ministry noted that this achievement follows the inclusion of two new Ramsar sites in India, bringing the country\u2019s total wetlands of international importance to 93.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The move reflects India\u2019s consistent push to integrate ecological preservation with international frameworks.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Future Outlook<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The UNESCO recognition is expected to encourage greater research collaborations, promote responsible tourism, and improve climate resilience strategies in high-altitude ecosystems.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It also calls attention to India\u2019s role in safeguarding fragile mountain landscapes that are both biodiversity hotspots and cultural treasures.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The designation strengthens the global narrative of balancing conservation with community livelihoods, offering India an opportunity to showcase its traditional knowledge systems, pastoral practices, and eco-cultural heritage.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source :<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/energy-and-environment\/indias-cold-desert-biosphere-reserve-designated-by-unesco\/article70103250.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TH<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> | <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/himachal-cold-desert-enters-unesco-biosphere-reserve-list-10275673\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IE<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve in Himachal Pradesh has been added to UNESCO\u2019s World Network of Biosphere Reserves.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":65716,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[2944,60,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-65473","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-biosphere-reserve","9":"tag-mains-articles","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65473","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65473"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65473\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/65716"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65473"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65473"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}