Shimla: Himachal Pradesh’s Spiti Valley in the Lahaul-Spiti district has earned global recognition as India’s first Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme.
The announcement was made during the 37th International Coordinating Council (MAB-ICC) meeting held in Hangzhou, China, between September 26 and 28. With this inclusion, India now has 13 biosphere reserves listed in UNESCO’s global MAB network.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu welcomed the development, crediting both the state government’s efforts and the deep-rooted commitment of local communities toward protecting Spiti’s fragile ecology. He said Himachal Pradesh would continue to balance development with conservation in the era of climate change.
The newly recognised Spiti Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve spans 7,770 sq. km, encompassing the Spiti Wildlife Division and adjoining parts of the Lahaul Forest Division, including Baralacha Pass, Bharatpur, and Sarchu. Spread across altitudes between 3,300 and 6,600 metres, the reserve lies within the Trans-Himalaya biogeographic province.
It is divided into three zones: a 2,665 sq. km core zone, a 3,977 sq. km buffer zone, and a 1,128 sq. km transition zone. The area integrates Pin Valley National Park, Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandratal Wetland, and the Sarchu Plains, showcasing an exceptional cold desert ecosystem shaped by harsh climate, rugged topography, and fragile soils.
The reserve is home to 655 herb species, 41 shrubs, and 17 tree species, including rare medicinal plants central to the Sowa Rigpa/Amchi healing tradition. Wildlife includes 17 mammal species and 119 bird species, with the elusive Snow Leopard as the flagship species. Other key species are the Tibetan wolf, red fox, ibex, blue sheep, Himalayan snow cock, golden eagle, and bearded vulture.
Amitabh Gautam, PCCF (Wildlife), said the recognition would not only strengthen international conservation collaboration but also promote eco-tourism and local livelihoods while boosting India’s climate resilience efforts in the Himalayas.
