However, the Biosphere Reserves differ from protected areas due to their emphasis on:

(i) Conservation of overall biodiversity and landscape, rather than some specific flagship species, to allow natural and evolutionary processes to continue without any hindrance.

(ii) Different components of BRs like landscapes, habitats, and species and land races.

(iii) Developmental activities, and resolution/mitigation of conflicts between development and conservation,

(iv) Increase in broad-basing of stakeholders, especially local people’s participation and their Training, compared to the features of scheme on Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks.

(v) Sustainable environment friendly development, and sustained coordination amongst different development organizations and agencies.

(vi) Research and Monitoring to understand the structure and functioning of ecological system and their mode of reaction when exposed to human intervention.

♤ The Indian National Man and Biosphere Committee constituted by the Central Govt. identifies new sites, advises on policies and programmes, lays down guidelines, reviews progress and guidelines in the light of evaluation studies and feed back.

♤ The Management of Biosphere Reserves is the responsibility of the concerned State/UT with necessary financial assistance, guidelines for management and Technical expertise provided by the Central Government.

♤ BR are internationally recognized within the framework of UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme, after receiving consent of the participating country.

Do you know?

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 2011-2020 as the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity and United Nations Decade for Deserts and the Fight against Desertification.

Do you know?

Dead and decaying trees on the ground replenish soils by returning important nutrients, and provide food resources for many types of wildlife.