India Expands Biosphere Reserve Support to Strengthen Biodiversity and Community Livelihoods
SDG 15: Life on Land | SDG 13: Climate Action
Institutions: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change | National Biodiversity Authority
India marked the International Day of Biosphere Reserves (3 November 2025) by highlighting policy actions that strengthen ecological protection and community development within its biosphere reserve network. The country currently has 18 Biosphere Reserves covering 91,425 sq km, of which 13 are recognised by UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves. In September 2025, the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve in Himachal Pradesh gained UNESCO recognition, underscoring India’s growing role in global conservation frameworks.
Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Biodiversity Conservation, biosphere reserve funding follows a 60:40 Central-State model, and 90:10 for North-Eastern and Himalayan states. The allocation has doubled from ₹5 crore (FY 2024-25) to ₹10 crore (FY 2025-26) to scale ecosystem protection, sustainable livelihoods, and eco-development in buffer and transition zones.
India ranks 9th globally in total forest area and 3rd in annual forest gain (FAO, 2025). Biosphere Reserves complement national missions such as Project Tiger, Project Elephant, Green India Mission, and eco-sensitive zone planning, serving as living laboratories that integrate conservation, research, and community welfare.
The initiative aligns with National Biodiversity Action Plan, Green India Mission, and India’s commitments under the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme, reinforcing ecological resilience, climate adaptation, and locally-led conservation — particularly in fragile Himalayan and coastal ecosystems.
What are Biosphere Reserves?→ Biosphere Reserves are conservation and development zones notified by national governments to protect biodiversity while supporting sustainable livelihoods. Recognised under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme, they serve as testbeds for ecological management, combining ecosystem protection, research, and community participation across core, buffer, and transition zones.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can India deepen community-led governance and sustainable livelihood models in biosphere reserves to strengthen climate resilience and ecological security?
Follow the full news here: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2185715