Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve - Equitable Tourism Options
Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve - Equitable Tourism Options
Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve - Equitable Tourism Options
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Location<br />
Area (hectares)<br />
Total<br />
Core area(s)<br />
Bufferzone(s)<br />
Transition area(s) when given<br />
Altitude (m. above sea level)<br />
Year designated<br />
Administrative authorities<br />
552,000<br />
124,000<br />
357,400<br />
70,600<br />
+300 to +2,670<br />
2000<br />
Principal Chief Conservator of<br />
Forests, (Wildlife ), & Chief Wildlife<br />
Warden, Government of Karnataka,<br />
Bangalore<br />
Nilgiri is the first internationally deSignated biosphere reserve in India,<br />
representing a unique and threatened ecosystem in the tropics within the<br />
western Ghats system. It is one of the world's biodiversity hotspots and<br />
provides habitat for the largest south Indian population of tigers, elephants<br />
and other large Mammals. The Nilgiri <strong>Biosphere</strong> <strong>Reserve</strong> was the first<br />
biosphere reserve in India established in the year 1986. It is located in<br />
the Western Ghats and includes 2 of the 10 biogeographical provinces of<br />
India. A wide range of ecosystems and species diversity are found in this<br />
region. Thus, it was a natural choice for the premier biosphere reserve of<br />
the country.<br />
The inaugural session for the biosphere reserve was held on the State<br />
Forest Service College Campus in Coimbatore. It was chaired by Mr.<br />
Gokhale, president of the Indian National MAB Committee. After the<br />
inauguration, copies of the UNESCO biosphere reserve certificate signed<br />
by the Director General of UNESCO, Mr Koichiro Matsuura, were<br />
presented to Chief Wildlife Wardens of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka -<br />
Mr Sukhdev Thakur, Mr V K Sinha and Mr S K Chakravarti.<br />
The Nilgiri <strong>Biosphere</strong> <strong>Reserve</strong> was established mainly to fulfill the following<br />
objectives:<br />
• To conserve in situ genetiC diversity of species<br />
• To restore degraded ecosystems to their natural conditions<br />
NitaKir;" : Fading Glory 2