Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve gets entry into the UNESCO's global list

NEW DELHI: A global body has added Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve to the UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves, making it 11th such entry from India in the list of 686 biosphere reserves from 122 countries.


The listing acts as a unique tool for international co-operation through sharing knowledge, exchanging experiences, building capacity and promoting best practices for conserving the biosphere reserves which are areas comprising territorial, marine and coastal ecosystems.


The decision to include Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve, located in Sikkim, in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves was taken in the International Coordination Council meeting of the UNESCO in Indonesia late last month.

“Gratified to note that the UNESCO has included the Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve in Sikkim in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR),” tweeted Union environment minister Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday.

The other Indian biosphere reserves in the list include Nilgiri, Gulf of Mannar, Sunderban, Nanda Devi, Nokrek, Pachmarhi, Simlipal, Achanakmar-Amarkantak, Great Nicobar and Agasthyamala.

The Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve is one of the highest ecosystems in the world. It falls within the Himalaya global biodiversity hotspot. The core zone alone has over 150 glaciers and 73 glacial lakes with the prominent one being the famous 26 km long Zemu glacier.

“It is home for many of the globally threatened fauna including musk deer, snow leopard, red panda and Himalayan Tahr. It is also home for many ethnic communities including Lepcha, Nepalese, and Bhutia,” said the UNESCO in a statement, announcing the inclusion of the Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve in the WNBR.

The entry into the WNBR happened two years after the UNESCO had designated the Kanchenjunga National Park as a World Heritage Site. At present, there are 37 Indian sites in this global heritage list.

The Kanchenjunga National Park within the Kanchenjunga Biosphere Reserve supports 130 endemic species of eastern Himalayas and over 212 bird species of conservation concerns including seven globally threatened species.

“Because of its location, which includes the third highest peak in the world, Mount Kanchenjunga, it offers unique opportunities for joint collaboration and conservation of biodiversity with neighboring countries,” said the UNESCO.