The Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve in Himachal Pradesh was included in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves on 27 September 2025. The announcement was made during the World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in Hangzhou, China and also during the 37th Session of UNESCO’s International Coordinating Council – Man and the Biosphere. With this inclusion, India now has 13 UNESCO-recognised biosphere reserves in the global network.The recognition highlights India’s commitment to biodiversity conservation, community-led sustainable development, and protection of fragile high-altitude Himalayan ecosystems.
The Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve is located in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti region, spread across nearly 7,770 sq. km in the Trans-Himalayan region. It lies at altitudes ranging from 3,300 metres to 6,600 metres, making it one of the coldest and driest ecosystems in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves.The reserve includes Pin Valley National Park, Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandratal Wetland, Sarchu plains, and adjoining areas such as Baralacha Pass, Bharatpur and Sarchu. Its landscape consists of windswept plateaus, glacial valleys, alpine lakes, rugged high-altitude deserts and alpine meadows.
The Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve is India’s first high-altitude cold desert biosphere reserve. Its inclusion in UNESCO’s network gives global recognition to a fragile mountain ecosystem that faces pressures from tourism and climate change.It also places Himachal Pradesh’s cold desert region on the global conservation map, opening possibilities for international research collaborations, responsible eco-tourism, and climate resilience efforts in the Himalayas.
The reserve is rich in high-altitude biodiversity. It supports 732 species of vascular plants, including 30 endemics and 157 near-endemics of the Indian Himalayas. Another account mentions 655 herbs, 41 shrubs and 17 tree species, including 14 endemics and 47 medicinal plants linked with the Sowa Rigpa/Amchi system.Its wildlife includes the snow leopard as the flagship species, along with Himalayan ibex, blue sheep, Himalayan wolf, golden eagle and Himalayan snowcock. The Spiti Valley also supports a strong prey base of more than 800 blue sheep.
Around 12,000 people live in scattered villages within the reserve. Their livelihoods are based on traditional pastoralism, yak and goat herding, barley and pea farming, and traditional Tibetan medicine.The region also has strong Buddhist monastic traditions and community councils, which help regulate the use of fragile alpine resources. This makes the reserve an important example of how conservation and community welfare can coexist.
| Zone | Area |
|---|---|
| Core Zone | 2,665 sq. km |
| Buffer Zone | 3,977 sq. km |
| Transition Zone | 1,128 sq. km |
This zonation helps balance strict conservation, sustainable use, and community participation.
Biosphere reserves are areas identified by national governments for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. They are described as learning places for sustainable development, where conservation, research, monitoring and community welfare are integrated.They may include terrestrial, marine and coastal ecosystems. Each biosphere reserve promotes solutions that reconcile biodiversity conservation with sustainable use.Biosphere reserves are nominated by national governments and remain under the sovereign jurisdiction of the countries where they are located.
The UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme recognises biosphere reserves under the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. The programme combines natural sciences and social sciences to improve human livelihoods while safeguarding natural and managed ecosystems.Its focus areas include assessing changes in the biosphere due to human and natural activities, studying links between ecosystems and socio-economic processes, ensuring human welfare and liveable environments, and promoting knowledge exchange, environmental education and sustainable development.The programme operates under the guidance of UNESCO Member States. Its main governing body is the International Coordinating Council, also known as the MAB Council, composed of 34 Member States.
India has 18 notified Biosphere Reserves covering about 91,425 sq. km. Out of these, 13 are recognised by UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves.The programme is administered by the Biosphere Reserve Division of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change through a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for biodiversity conservation under the broader Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems programme.The funding pattern is 60:40 between Centre and State, and 90:10 for North Eastern and Himalayan states. The budget allocation for biodiversity conservation under CNRE increased from ₹5 crore in 2024-25 to ₹10 crore in 2025-26.The scheme focuses especially on local communities, alternative livelihoods, eco-development activities, and sustainable resource management in buffer and transition zones to reduce pressure on core biodiversity areas.
India’s biosphere reserve programme complements other conservation initiatives such as Project Tiger, Project Elephant, Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats, National Biodiversity Action Plan, Eco-Sensitive Zones, Wildlife Corridors, and Green India Mission.These initiatives collectively support habitat conservation, species protection, climate resilience, community development, and sustainable resource use.
Along with the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve’s inclusion in UNESCO’s network, India also added two new Ramsar sites in Bihar: Gokul Jalashay in Buxar district and Udaipur Jheel in West Champaran district. With this, India’s Ramsar sites increased to 93, covering 13,60,719 hectares.
The inclusion of the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve in UNESCO’s World Network marks an important milestone in India’s conservation journey. It highlights the importance of protecting fragile Himalayan cold desert ecosystems while supporting local communities through sustainable livelihoods. The development also strengthens India’s global role in biodiversity conservation, community-led development, and climate-resilient ecosystem management.Updated – 03 November 2025 ; 12:19 PM | PIB, News On Air, DD News, Down to Earth, Indian Express