UNESCO Recognizes India's Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve: 13th Site Added to World Network

India's Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve has been officially designated by UNESCO as part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, making it the 13th such site from India to receive this prestigious recognition.

UNESCO announced on Saturday that the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve is among 26 new biosphere reserves across 21 countries that have been added to the global network this year—the highest number in two decades.

Located in the trans-Himalayan region, this unique biosphere reserve spans approximately 7,770 square kilometers across Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul-Spiti district. It features diverse landscapes including windswept plateaus, glacial valleys, alpine lakes, and high-altitude deserts, representing one of the coldest and driest ecosystems in the UNESCO network.

The decision was confirmed during the 37th session of UNESCO's International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program held in Paris. Union Minister for Environment and Forests Bhupender Yadav shared the news on social media platform X, highlighting that this addition "reflects India's commitment towards biodiversity conservation and community-led sustainable development."

With this latest addition, UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves now includes 785 sites across 142 countries. Since 2018, an additional one million square kilometers of natural areas—equivalent to the size of Bolivia—have been brought under protection through this network.

This year marks a significant expansion of the program, with six countries—Angola, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Iceland, Oman, and Tajikistan—welcoming their first biosphere reserves. Notably, Sao Tome and Principe became the first nation to have its entire territory designated as a biosphere reserve.

UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay emphasized the milestone, stating, "With nearly thirty new designations this year, our World Network of Biosphere Reserves has reached a major milestone, now protecting 5 percent of the planet." She added that these reserves demonstrate how nature conservation can be balanced with sustainable livelihoods.

The Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve is an ecological treasure, hosting 732 species of vascular plants, including 30 endemic species and 157 near-endemic species of the Indian Himalayas. The reserve spans elevations from 3,300 to 6,600 meters and encompasses the Pin Valley National Park and the Kibber and Chandratal Wildlife Sanctuaries.

This fragile ecosystem supports diverse alpine vegetation including medicinal herbs, rare Willow-leaved sea-buckthorn, Himalayan birch, and Persian juniper. The region is also home to iconic wildlife such as snow leopards, Himalayan ibex, blue sheep, Himalayan wolves, and bird species including the Himalayan snowcock and golden eagle.

Approximately 12,000 people live within the reserve in scattered villages, maintaining traditional practices such as pastoralism, yak and goat herding, barley and pea farming, and Tibetan herbal medicine. These knowledge systems are sustained through Buddhist monastic traditions and community councils that help regulate the use of fragile alpine resources.

As India's first high-altitude cold desert biosphere reserve to receive UNESCO recognition, it highlights the urgent need to protect mountain ecosystems that face increasing pressures from tourism and climate change.

The announcement comes shortly after two more Ramsar wetland sites in India were added to the UNESCO list, bringing India's total number of internationally recognized wetlands to 93.

The recent recognition is expected to boost both tourism and scientific research activities in this ecologically significant region of India.