Spiti Valley Becomes India’s First Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve

SHIMLA -Himachal Pradesh’s Spiti Valley in Lahaul-Spiti district has been recognized as India’s first Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO’s prestigious Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program.

With this inclusion, India now has 13 Biosphere Reserves in the MAB Network. This feat has been made possible due to the efforts of the state government, which has consistently highlighted the region’s unique ecology, climate, culture, and heritage, as well as the commitment of local communities who have lived in harmony with nature for generations.

The Spiti Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve spans a geographical area of 7,770 sq. km, covering the entire Spiti Wildlife Division and adjoining parts of the Lahaul Forest Division, including Baralacha Pass, Bharatpur, and Sarchu. Situated at altitudes ranging from 3,300 to 6,600 meters, the Reserve falls within the Trans-Himalaya biogeographic province of the Indian Himalaya.

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 Pin Valley National Park, Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandratal Wetland, and the Sarchu Plains, representing a unique cold desert ecosystem shaped by extreme climate, topography, and fragile soils. The region is ecologically rich, harbouring 655 herbs, 41 shrubs, and 17 tree species, including 14 endemic and 47 medicinal plants central to the Sowa Rigpa and Amchi healing tradition. Its wildlife includes 17 mammal species and 119 bird species, with the snow leopard as a flagship species.

Other notable species include the Tibetan wolf, red fox, ibex, blue sheep, Himalayan snow cock, golden eagle, and the bearded vulture. With more than 800 blue sheep, Spiti Valley alone provides a strong prey base for large carnivores.  (IANS)