Spiti Valley: India's First Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve
Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh has been designated as India's first Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme.
This recognition was announced at the 37th session of UNESCO's International Coordinating Council of the MAB Programme, bringing the total number of Indian sites in UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves to 13.
The cold desert ecosystem of Spiti Valley is characterized by extreme climate, rugged terrain, and fragile soils, yet it supports a remarkable array of biodiversity, including:
- 655 herb species
- 41 shrub species
- 17 tree species, with 14 endemic and 47 medicinal plants
- 17 mammal species
- 119 bird species
The snow leopard is the flagship species in the region, accompanied by other notable animals such as the Tibetan wolf, red fox, Himalayan ibex, golden eagle, Himalayan snowcock, and bearded vulture.
Author's summary: Spiti Valley is now India's first cold desert biosphere reserve.
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