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The programme of Biosphere Reserve was initiated under the 'Man & Biosphere' (MAB) programme by UNESCO in 1971.  The purpose of the formation of the biosphere reserve is to conserve in situ all forms of life, along with its support system, in its totality, so that it could serve as a referral system for monitoring and evaluating changes in natural ecosystems.  The first biosphere reserve of the world was established in 1979, since then the network of  biosphere reserves has increased to 564 in 109 countries across the world (MAB, 2010).  Presently, there are 17 existing biosphere reserves in India.

 Biosphere Reserves in India
 (as on January 1, 2012)

S. No.

Name

Date of
Notification

Area (in km2)

Location (State)
1

Achanakamar -    Amarkantak

2005

3835.51
(Core 551.55 & Buffer  3283.86)

Covers parts of Anupur and Dindori districts of M.P. and parts of Bilaspur districts of Chhattishgarh State.
2

Agasthyamalai

12.11.2001

1828

Neyyar, Peppara and Shendurney  Wildlife Sanctuaries and their adjoining areas in Kerala.
3 Cold Desert 28.08.2009 7770 Pin Valley National Park and surroundings; Chandratal and Sarchu & Kibber Wildlife Sancturary in Himachal Pradesh
4

Dehang-Dibang

02.09.98

5111.50
(Core 4094.80 & Buffer 1016.70)

Part of Siang and Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh. 
5

Dibru-Saikhowa

28.07.97

765
(Core 340 & Buffer 425)

Part of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia Districts (Assam)
6

Great Nicobar 

06.01.89

885 (Core 705 & Buffer 180)

Southern most islands of Andaman And Nicobar (A&N Islands). 
7

Gulf of Mannar

18.02.89

10,500 km2
Total Gulf area
(area of Islands 5.55 km2) 

Indian part of Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka (Tamil Nadu).

8 Kachchh 29.01.2008 12,454 km2 Part of Kachchh, Rajkot, Surendra Nagar and Patan Civil Districts of Gujarat State
9

Khangchendzonga 

07.02.2000

2619.92
(Core 1819.34 & Buffer 835.92)

Parts of Khangchendzonga hills and Sikkim.
10

Manas

14.03.89

2837
(Core 391 & Buffer 2,446)

Part of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamprup and Darang districts (Assam) 
11

Nanda Devi 

18.01.88

5860.69
(Core 712.12, Buffer 5,148.570) & T. 546.34)

Part of Chamoli, Pithoragarh, and Bageshwar districts (Uttarakhand). 
12

Nilgiri

01.09.86

5520
(Core 1240 & Buffer 4280) 

Part of Wayanad, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Madumalai, Nilambur, Silent Valley and Siruvani hills (Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka).
13

Nokrek 

01.09.88

820
(Core 47.48 & Buffer 227.92, Transition Zone 544.60)

Part of Garo hills (Meghalaya).
14

Pachmarhi

03.03.99

4926

Parts of Betul, Hoshangabad and Chindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh. 
15 Seshachalam Hills 20.09.2010 4755.997 Seshachalam Hill Ranges covering parts of Chittoor and Kadapa districts of Andhra Pradesh
16

Simlipal

21.06.94

4374
(Core 845, Buffer 2129 & Transition 1400

Part of Mayurbhanj district (Orissa).  

17

Sunderbans

29.03.89

9630
(Core 1700 & Buffer  7900)

Part of delta of Ganges and Brahamaputra river system
(West Bengal).