India Strikes Roots in UN Biospheres

Three Indian wildlife reserves from Meghalaya, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh are among the 22 new sites to join the prestigious Unesco's biosphere reserves. Three Indian wildlife reserves from Meghalaya, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh are among the 22 new sites to join the prestigious Unesco world network of biosphere reserves. The UN body chooses these reserves as sites for experimenting with and learning about sustainable development approaches. The locations are chosen based on their unique biodiversity, terrestrial, coastal and marine resources. While Nokrek in Meghalaya harbours a variety of fauna like elephants and hoolock gibbons and serves as a gene pool for commercially produced citrus, Pachmarhi located in the heart of India is known as a botanist’s paradise for its diverse forests and rich wildlife. Similipal in Orissa comes next on the list with its tropical environment that serves as a delight for environmental scientists. Once a hunting ground for the Maharajah of Mayurbhanj, this reserve abounds with tigers, elephants, panthers and numerous plant species. The unique interaction between the areas’ tribal inhabitants and the forest is what sets each of these reserves apart.