Agasthyamala likely to be part of World biosphere reserves

K.S. Sudhi
KOCHI,  
The Hindu, June 4, 2015

The Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve (ABR) may be included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves by the International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme of UNESCO if legal protection is ensured for the northern part of the site.

The Agasthyamala reserve is the only site considered from the country by the International Advisory Committee for Biosphere Reserves this year. The proposal will be considered at the Paris session of the MAB beginning June 8.

Currently, Agasthyamala is listed in the category of “nominations recommended for approval, pending the submission of specific information.”

Nine in country

Though there are 18 biosphere reserves in the country, only nine, including the Nilgiris, Nanda Devi, Nokrek, Gulf of Mannar, Sundarban, and Great Nicobar, have been included in the network.

Biosphere reserves are “representative parts of natural and cultural landscapes extending over a large area of terrestrial or coastal/marine ecosystems or a combination thereof and representative examples of bio-geographic zones/provinces.” Globally, 621 biosphere reserves from 117 countries are included in the network so far, according to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change.