The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme

The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme is an intergovernmental scientific programme that aims to establish a scientific basis for enhancing the relationship between people and their environments. It combines the natural and social sciences with a view to improving human livelihoods and safeguarding natural and managed ecosystems, thus promoting innovative approaches to economic development that are socially and culturally appropriate and environmentally sustainable.

Its World Network of Biosphere Reserves is a dynamic and interactive network of sites of excellence that foster harmony between people and nature for sustainable development through participatory dialogue; knowledge sharing; poverty reduction and human well-being improvements; respect for cultural values and society’s ability to cope with change. 

Biosphere reserves are ‘learning places for sustainable development’. They are sites for testing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and managing changes and interactions between social and ecological systems, including conflict prevention and management of biodiversity. They are places that provide local solutions to global challenges. Biosphere reserves include terrestrial, marine and coastal ecosystems. Each site promotes solutions reconciling the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use.

Biosphere reserves are nominated by national governments and remain under the sovereign jurisdiction of the states where they are located. Biosphere Reserves are designated under the intergovernmental MAB Programme by the Director-General of UNESCO following the decisions of the MAB International Coordinating Council (MAB-ICC). Their status is internationally recognized.

Biosphere Reserves involve local communities and all interested stakeholders in planning and management.

The 12 Biosphere Reserves in India are as follow;

1. Panna Biosphere Reserve falls in bio-geographic zones of Deccan Peninsula and Biotic Province of Central highlands. The Panna Biosphere Reserve in India encompasses Panna National Park, three sections of the Gangau Sanctuary (I, III and IV) and the Reserved and Protected Forests of the North Panna Forest Division.
2. Sunderban is the largest delta and mangrove forest in the world. The Indian Sunderban is bound on the west by river Muriganga and on the east by rivers Harinbhahga and Raimangal. The Biogeography of Sunderban is unique and the region harbours a rich diversity in terms of species content, ecosystem and habitat types.
3. The Nokrek Biosphere Reserve is located in the northeast of India on the Tura Range, which forms part of the Meghalaya Plateau (average altitude: 600 metres). Evergreen and semi-evergreen deciduous forests dominate the landscape: 90% of the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve is covered by evergreen forest.
4. Khangchendzonga, located in the state of Sikkim, bordering Nepal to the west and Tibet (China) to the north-west, this biosphere reserve is one of the highest ecosystems in the world, reaching elevations of 1,220 to 8,586 metres above sea level. Situated over the Himalayan trans-axial belt, the Biosphere Reserve’s most common constituents are valleys with numerous ravines, deep gorges and gullies, saddles, crests, knolls and river-terraces.
5. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve exemplifies the tropical forest biome, and falls within the Western Ghats system which portray the confluence of Afro-tropical and Indo-Malayan biotic zones of the world.  Biogeographically, Western Ghats is the most important region and one of the noted ‘Hot Spots’ for speciation in the tropics.
6. Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve is located in the southernmost end of the Western Ghats and incorporates peaks towering 1,868m above sea level. It covers 3,500km2and encompasses tropical forest ecosystems that fall within the Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts of Tamil Nadu and the Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts of Kerala, Southern India.
7. The Gulf of Mannar endowed with three distinct Coastal ecosystems namely coral reef, seagrass bed and mangroves is  considered one of the world’s richest region from a marine biodiversity perspective, is known for its unique biological wealth and is a store house of marine diversity of global significance.
8. The Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve harbours a wide spectrum of ecosystems comprising tropical wet evergreen forests, mountain ranges reaching a height of 642 m (Mt. Thullier) above sea level, and coastal plains. The region is noted for its rich biodiversity.
9. The Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, located in the Himalayan Mountains in the northern part of the country, includes as core areas the Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks, which are one World Heritage site. Nanda Devi National Park has remained more or less intact because of its inaccessibility.
10. The Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve is located in the biogeographical region of the Deccan Peninsula and the Biotic Province of Central India. Pachmarhi comprises three protection sites: the Bori Sanctuary, Satpura National Park and Pachmarhi Sanctuary – otherwise known as the Satpura Tiger Reserve.
11. The Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve is the most dramatic and ecologically diverse landscape in the Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh states of India. The Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve is located at the junction of hill ranges, with topography ranging from high mountains, shallow valleys and plains. Moist deciduous forests constitute 63% of the area.
12. Located in northeast India, the Similipal Biosphere Reserve lies within two biogeographical regions: the Mahanadian east coastal region of the Oriental realm and the Chhotanagpur biotic province of the Deccan peninsular zone.

These three functions are pursued through the Biosphere Reserves' three main zones;

Core areas (3)

They comprise a strictly protected zone that contributes to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation

Buffer zones (2)

They surround or adjoin the core area(s), and are used for activities compatible with sound ecological practices that can reinforce scientific research, monitoring, training and education.

Transition area (1)

The transition area is where communities foster socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable economic and human activities.

The MAB programme aims to establish a scientific basis for enhancing the relationship between people and their environments.