India’s cold desert bios atmosphere reserve, high in the Trans-Himalayas region, is one of the 26 new biosphere reserves in various countries, designated by UNESCO, announced the organization on Saturday (September 27, 2025).
With this addition, India has now mentioned 13 biosphers in the World Network or Biosphere reserves (WNBR) of UNESCO.
The cold desert bios atmosphere reserve of Noord -India comprises approximately 7,770 square km. According to UNESCO, about the landscapes of the Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh.
Including windy plateaus, icy valleys, alpine lakes and rugged deserts at high height, it is one of the coldest and driest ecosystems in WNBR.
“UNESCO designates 26 new biosphere reserves in 21 countries – the highest number in 20 years. The World Network of Biosphere Reserves now comprises 785 locations in 142 countries, with a million square km. Of natural areas that have been protected since 2018 – equivalent to the size of Bolivia,” the world organization said in an explanation.
The decision to include the cold desert bios atmosphere reserve of India in the WNBR was taken during the 37th session of the International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) of UNESCO, said Union Minister for Environment and Bosen Bhupen Yadav said in a post about X.
“With this addition, India has now proudly mentioned 13 Biosphers in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of UNESCO, which reflects the use of India for the preservation of biodiversity and sustainable development led by the community,” said the minister.
He added that India continues to make dedicated efforts to maintain, protect and restore the ecosystem under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The development came shortly after two Ramsar sites in India have been added to the UNESCO list, which raised the total number of Ramsar sites to 93, Mr Yadav added. Ramsar sites refer to those on the list of Wetlands of international importance.
The UNESCO recognition of the cold desert biosphere is likely to promote tourism and research in the region.
This year, six countries welcome their first biosphere reserve, while Sao Tome and Principle become the first state to have referred to his entire territory as a biosphere reserve, UNESCO said.
Six countries saw the designation of their first biosphere reserve on Saturday: Angola, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Iceland, Oman and Tajikistan, said it.
In addition to these six, new reserves have also been designated in Albania, China, Ethiopia, France, Greece, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mongolia, Portugal, Saudi -Aarabia and Sweden, added it.
“With nearly thirty new names this year, our World Network or Biosphere reserves has reached an important milestone, which now protects 5 percent of the planet. Within these reserves, new ways to balance nature with sustainable living every day,” the UNESCO director-general was awarded in the statement.
“UNESCO will continue to mobilize states, scientists, civil society and local and indigenous communities to continue this positive momentum,” she said.
This week UNESCO collected more than 2,000 international experts, public decision makers, civil society, indigenous representatives and young people for the 5th World Congress of Biosphere reserves, to map the performance of this historical UNESCO program and to map its course for the coming decade.
During the congress, Mrs. Azoulay invited each Member State to set up at least one biosphere reserve by 2035, said it.
Biosphere reserves the protection of some of the richest and fragile ecosystems of the planet.
Cold desert bios atmosphere reserves houses 732 species of vascular plants, including 30 Endemics and 157 Near-Endemics of the Indian Himalayas, according to UNESCO.
Heights in this reserve vary from 3,300 to 6,600 m, which cover the Pin Valley National Park and Kibber and Chandratal Wildlife Sanctuaries, it said.
This fragile cold desert ecosystem supports hardy alpine grasses, medicinal herbs and rare grandstands of willow-leaf Zee-Buckthorn, Himalaya binds and Persian juniper.
Iconic fauna include the snow leopard, Himalayan Ibex, Blue Sheep, Himalayan Wolf and Rich Bird Life such as the Himalaya Snowcock and Golden Eagle.
About 12,000 inhabitants live in scattered villages, practice traditional pastoralism, yak and goat -repelling, barley and pea competitions and Tibetan herbal medicine, knowledge supported by Buddhist monastic traditions and community councils that regulate the use of fragile alpine resources, it said it.
As the first major desert bios atmosphere reserve in India, it emphasizes the urgent need to protect mountain ecosystems that are confronted with tourist pressure and climate change, UNESCO added.
#Indias #cold #desert #bios #atmosphere #reserve #designated #UNESCO