Biosphere Reserves

 Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) was constituted on 1st Sep 1986 under UNESCO’S Man and Biosphere Programme. It is the first Biosphere Reserve in India. The total area of NBR is 5520.40 sq,km and falls in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. The Kerala part of the Reserve consists of 1455.40 sq.km. The forest tract in Kerala part of NBR consists of the forest areas of wayanad wildlife Sanctuary, Silent Valley National Park, Nilambur south, Nilambur North, Palakkad, mannarkkad , Kozhikode and Wayanad south divisions. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is incorporated into world network of Biosphere Reserves by UNESCO on 10.11.2000.

 Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve (100% centrally sponsored Scheme)
Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve (ABR) was notified on 12th November 2001 under UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Programme.  The ABR falls exclusively in Kerala covering an area of 1701 sq.km. The forest tracts of Neyyar, Peppara, Shendumey wildlife Sancturias and Achencoil, Thenmala, Konni, Punalur, Thiruvananthapuram Divisions and Agasthyavanam Specila Division is included in ABR.

For the co-ordination of the activities of various departments in the B.R area and for ensuring the scientific management of the B R a local committee and a state level Biosphere Management Committee are also constituted as per GOI guidelines.

1. 1281 ha.of area has been evicted from Mathikettan Shola and it has been declared as a National Park.
2. Including Agasthyamala 1701 sq.km. area declared as Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve.