UNESCO Recognizes Spiti Valley as India's First Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve: A Milestone for Himalayan Conservation

Sep 28, 2025 07:34 pm CST

Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh has been officially recognized as India's first Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere program. This 7,770 sq. km reserve showcases unique high-altitude biodiversity with over 700 plant species and rare wildlife including snow leopards. The designation acknowledges decades of successful community-based conservation while promoting sustainable development, ecological research, and climate resilience in this fragile Himalayan ecosystem.