Question.
Define Biosphere reserves?
(Chapter 5 Natural Vegetation, Class 11 NCERT geography "India Physical Environment")
Answer.
A biosphere reserve is a protected area that may contain terrestrial, coastal, or both ecosystems. Biosphere reserves not only provide protection and natural habitat for every species living in the area but also provide protection to tribal communities.
Biosphere reserves have three main objectives;
- Biodiversity and ecosystem protection
- Development related to environment and society
- Facilitate Research and Monitoring
There are a total of 18 biosphere reserves in India and ten out of eighteen biosphere reserves are recognized by UNESCO on the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
The following are some examples of biosphere reserves;
- Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (Biosphere Reserve)
- Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve (Biosphere Reserve)
- Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve (Biosphere Reserve)
The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve regions are home to a wide variety of ecosystems, including much dry vegetation, moist deciduous, semi-evergreen, and wet evergreen forests, evergreen shola forests, grasslands, etc. It is located in the Western Ghats.
The Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve is a marshy delta that is home to the Royal Bengal Tiger.
The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve is a marine biodiversity-rich area. It consists of 21 islands which include estuaries, beaches, adjacent eco-forests, seagrasses, coral reefs, marshes, and mangroves.
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