UNESCO adds Himachal Pradesh's Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve to its global network

New Delhi: India’s Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve in Himachal Pradesh is now a part of the UNESCO’s global network of designated biosphere reserves showcasing sustainable ways of living with nature, the UN body announced on Saturday.

Perched high in the trans-Himalayan region of northern India, the reserve spans approximately 7,770 square km areas across the dramatic landscapes of Lahaul–Spiti district and includes Pin Valley National Park, Kibber and Chandratal Wildlife Sanctuary.

With over 700 biosphere reserves in 130 plus countries - over 5 per cent of the Earth’s land area - these sites serve as models for balancing conservation and development — a blueprint the world urgently needs, the UNESCO says.

The announcement on 29 new sites comes at the end of the World Congress of Biosphere Reserves at Hangzhou in China between Sept 22-26.

“With this addition, India now proudly has 13 biospheres listed in UNESCOs’ World Network of Biosphere Reserves, which reflects India’s commitment towards biodiversity conservation and community-led sustainable development,” Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said in a social media post.

With altitudes ranging from 3,300 to 6,600 m, this fragile cold desert ecosystem supports hardy alpine grasses, medicinal herbs, and rare stands of willow-leaved seabuckthorn, Himalayan birch, and Persian juniper. It harbours 732 species of vascular plants, including 30 endemics and 157 near-endemics of the Indian Himalayas.

Iconic fauna include the snow leopard, Himalayan ibex, blue sheep, Himalayan wolf and rich bird life such as the Himalayan snow cock and golden eagle.

Around 12,000 inhabitants live in scattered villages, practicing traditional pastoralism, yak and goat herding, barley and pea farming, and Tibetan herbal medicine, knowledge sustained through Buddhist monastic traditions and community councils that regulate the use of fragile alpine resources.

“As India’s first high-altitude cold desert biosphere reserve, it highlights the urgent need to safeguard mountain ecosystems facing tourism pressures and climate change,” the UNESCO says in a statement.

Current conservation initiatives include snow leopard conservation, glacial lake monitoring, community-based climate resilience, and environmental education programs that bridge Indigenous knowledge with scientific research — ensuring the survival of this stark yet vibrant Himalayan sanctuary.