GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 29th Sept: India has secured its 13th place on UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves with the inclusion of the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve in Himachal Pradesh, spanning 7,770 sq. km of windswept plateaus, glacial valleys and high-altitude deserts.
Recognised as India’s first high-altitude cold desert biosphere, the site is home to snow leopards, Himalayan ibex and rare alpine plants, alongside vibrant mountain communities.
The designation underscores the need to protect fragile Himalayan ecosystems threatened by climate change and growing tourism.
Current projects focus on snow leopard conservation, glacial lake monitoring, community-based climate resilience and environmental education that merges Indigenous knowledge with modern research—aimed at sustaining this stark yet thriving sanctuary.
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