India’s spectacular Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve, nestled in the trans-Himalayan mountains, has officially been added to UNESCO’s prestigious list of new biosphere reserves. This exciting announcement was made by the organization on Saturday, September 27, 2025, alongside 25 other sites worldwide.
This significant inclusion brings India’s total number of sites within UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) to thirteen, underscoring the nation’s growing commitment to environmental preservation.
According to UNESCO, this expansive reserve in northern India covers an impressive 7,770 square kilometers, encompassing the breathtaking and dramatic landscapes of Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti district.
Characterized by windswept plateaus, ancient glacial valleys, pristine alpine lakes, and formidable high-altitude deserts, it stands out as one of the coldest and driest ecosystems within the entire World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
In a remarkable announcement, UNESCO revealed the designation of 26 new biosphere reserves across 21 nations—the largest single addition in two decades. This expansion brings the total to 785 sites in 142 countries, adding a staggering one million square kilometers of protected natural areas since 2018, an area comparable to the entire size of Bolivia.
The formal decision to integrate India’s Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve into the WNBR was made during the 37th session of UNESCO’s International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program in Paris. Union Minister for Environment and Forests, Bhupender Yadav, shared this significant development in a post on X.
Minister Yadav highlighted that having 13 Indian biospheres in the UNESCO World Network signifies India’s unwavering dedication to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development practices that empower local communities.
He further emphasized India’s ongoing, dedicated efforts to preserve, protect, and restore its diverse ecosystems, a mission strongly supported by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
This recent achievement follows closely on the heels of two Indian Ramsar sites—wetlands of international importance—being added to UNESCO’s list, elevating India’s total Ramsar sites to an impressive 93.
Such a prestigious UNESCO recognition is expected to significantly boost both tourism and scientific research within this unique cold desert region.
Notably, this year marks a milestone for six countries, as they each celebrate their very first biosphere reserve designation. Furthermore, Sao Tome and Principe has achieved the distinction of becoming the first sovereign state to have its entire territory recognized as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO.
On Saturday, nations including Angola, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Iceland, Oman, and Tajikistan celebrated the designation of their inaugural biosphere reserves.
Beyond these first-time additions, new reserves were also established in Albania, China, Ethiopia, France, Greece, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mongolia, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, and Sweden.
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay commented on this significant expansion, stating, “With nearly thirty new designations this year, our World Network of Biosphere Reserves has achieved a major milestone, now safeguarding 5 percent of the planet’s surface. Within these vital reserves, innovative approaches are continuously being developed to harmonize nature conservation with sustainable livelihoods for local communities.”
She affirmed UNESCO’s ongoing commitment to “mobilize states, scientists, civil society, and local and Indigenous communities to sustain this positive momentum in global conservation efforts.”
Earlier this week, UNESCO convened over 2,000 international experts, public officials, civil society leaders, indigenous representatives, and young delegates at the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves. The gathering aimed to review the remarkable achievements of this historic program and strategically plan its direction for the next decade.
During the Congress, Ms. Azoulay issued a compelling invitation to every member state, urging them to establish at least one biosphere reserve by the year 2035.
Biosphere reserves play a crucial role in protecting some of our planet’s most biologically rich and delicate ecosystems.
This particular Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve is a haven of biodiversity, hosting an impressive 732 species of vascular plants. Among these are 30 endemic species and 157 near-endemic species unique to the Indian Himalayas, as documented by UNESCO.
Spanning altitudes from 3,300 to 6,600 meters, the reserve encompasses vital protected areas such as Pin Valley National Park and the Kibber and Chandratal Wildlife Sanctuaries.
Despite its harsh environment, this delicate cold desert ecosystem flourishes with resilient alpine grasses, precious medicinal herbs, and rare growths of Willow-leaved sea-buckthorn, Himalayan birch, and Persian juniper.
Its remarkable wildlife includes iconic species like the elusive snow leopard, the agile Himalayan ibex, blue sheep, the majestic Himalayan wolf, and a diverse array of birdlife, including the Himalayan snowcock and the soaring golden eagle.
Approximately 12,000 people reside in scattered villages within the reserve, maintaining traditional livelihoods such as pastoralism, yak and goat herding, and cultivating barley and peas. They also practice Tibetan herbal medicine, a rich knowledge passed down through Buddhist monastic traditions and managed by community councils that ensure the sustainable use of these fragile alpine resources.
As India’s pioneering high-altitude cold desert biosphere reserve, its designation emphasizes the critical importance of protecting mountain ecosystems, which are increasingly vulnerable to mounting tourism pressures and the accelerating impacts of climate change.