Environment & ClimateImportant2025-09-27

Cold Desert Designated 13th UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

Why focus: New UNESCO WNBR tag for Cold Desert — sets up map-based 'How-Many-Correct' pairing Pin Valley & Kibber with state/biosphere boundaries.

In News

What Happened

On September 27, 2025, UNESCO officially added India's Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR). The declaration was made during the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in Hangzhou, China. Spanning Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul-Spiti district and encompassing Pin Valley National Park, it is now India's 13th internationally recognized biosphere reserve.

Why It Matters

This designation provides global recognition and crucial conservation frameworks for the fragile high-altitude ecosystems of the Himalayas. It strengthens the protection of endangered snow leopards and supports sustainable, community-led development in remote alpine regions.

Background

History & Context

The Government of India originally notified the Cold Desert as a national biosphere reserve in 2009 under the National Biosphere Reserve Programme. Over the years, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change prepared a comprehensive dossier to align the region's management with UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) framework. The International Co-ordinating Council of the MAB Programme officially approved its global inclusion at the 2025 congress.

What Changed

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Recognition: BEFORE, the Cold Desert was recognized only at the national level by the Indian government. NOW, it is globally recognized as India's 13th site in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
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Conservation Framework: BEFORE, wildlife protection followed domestic policies centered strictly on protected areas. NOW, management integrates UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere guidelines, focusing heavily on harmonizing human-nature interactions.
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Research and Funding: BEFORE, scientific studies and funding were largely limited to national institutes and state budgets. NOW, the reserve is part of a global network, facilitating international ecological research, data sharing, and external funding.

Prelims Angle

NCERT Connection

This connects directly to Class 11 Geography (India Physical Environment) Chapter 5 - Natural Vegetation. It serves as a modern case study for the preservation of 'Cold Desert Ecosystems of the Himalayas' and efforts to conserve the endemic flora and fauna of alpine regions.

Practice Questions

Q1

With Reference To

With reference to the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve, consider the following statements: 1. It is located primarily in the Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. 2. It encompasses the Pin Valley National Park and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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