In a landmark recognition, Himachal Pradesh’s Spiti Valley has been designated India’s first Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme. The announcement came during the 37th International Coordinating Council (MAB-ICC) meeting held in Hangzhou, China, from September 26 to 28. With this addition, India now boasts 13 Biosphere Reserves in the MAB Network.
The achievement is credited to the proactive efforts of the Himachal Pradesh government under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who has consistently emphasized the region’s unique ecology, climate, culture, and heritage, as well as the traditional knowledge and conservation practices of local communities.
Congratulating the Forest Department and its Wildlife Wing, the Chief Minister said, “The State Government is committed to protecting Himachal Pradesh’s rich natural and cultural heritage and fragile ecology in the era of climate change, while ensuring harmony between developmental activities and nature.”
Spanning 7,770 sq. km, the Spiti Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve encompasses the entire Spiti Wildlife Division (7,591 sq. km) and adjoining areas of the Lahaul Forest Division, including Baralacha Pass, Bharatpur, and Sarchu (179 sq. km). Situated at altitudes ranging from 3,300 to 6,600 meters, it falls within the Trans-Himalaya biogeographic province.
The Reserve is structured 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. It integrates key ecological sites, including Pin Valley National Park, Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandratal Wetland, and the Sarchu Plains, representing a fragile cold desert ecosystem shaped by extreme climate, high-altitude topography, and sensitive soils.
The biodiversity of Spiti is remarkable. The region is home to 655 herbs, 41 shrubs, and 17 tree species, including 14 endemic plants and 47 medicinal species central to the traditional Sowa Rigpa/Amchi healing system.
Wildlife includes 17 mammal species and 119 bird species, with the snow leopard serving as the flagship species. Other notable fauna includes the Tibetan wolf, red fox, ibex, blue sheep, Himalayan snow cock, golden eagle, and bearded vulture. With a population of over 800 blue sheep, Spiti provides a vital prey base for large carnivores in the region.
