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- Recently, Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve was included in the UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserve (WNBR) under the Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB).
- About Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve –It is one of the highest ecosystems in the world and located at trijunction of India (Sikkim), bordering Nepal to the west and Tibet (China) to the north-west.
–The site is one among the world’s 34 biodiversity hotspots.
–The Khangchendzonga National Park (KNP), which comprises the core area of the KBR, was inscribed as India’s first ‘Mixed World Heritage Site’ in 2016.
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- Gulf of Mannar- Tamilnadu
- Sundarban- West Bangal
- Nanda Devi-Uttrakhand
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- Nokrek- Meghalaya
- Pachmarchi-Madhya Pradesh
- Simlipal- Orisa
- Achanakmar-Amarkantak- Madhya Pradesh
- Great- Nicobar- Andaman and Nicobar Island
- Agasthyamala- (Western Ghat) Kerala & Tamilnadu
- UNESCO also announced the registration of 23 other new sites in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves
. • Now the total number of Biosphere reserves under MAB programme has reached to 686.
- World Network of Biosphere Reserve (WNBR) and India
- It covers internationally designated protected areas, each known as biosphere reserves, that are meant to demonstrate a balanced relationship between people and nature. – India has 18 biospheres reserves, of which 11 have been included in the WNBR. – The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve was the first reserve from the country to be included in the WNBR.