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Name a biosphere reserve that contains other protected areas in it.

GeneralClass 12AllAnswered 27 Mar 2026
Answer

The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve contains multiple protected areas within its boundaries, including the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Mukurthi National Park, Silent Valley National Park, and parts of Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. Established in 1986, this biosphere reserve spans across the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala in the Western Ghats mountain range, covering approximately 5,520 square kilometers. This design reflects the core principle of biosphere reserves—creating large conservation landscapes that include strictly protected core zones, buffer zones for limited activities, and transition zones where sustainable development occurs.

The integrated structure allows for comprehensive ecosystem protection while accommodating human activities in designated areas. The core zones (national parks and sanctuaries) receive complete protection from exploitation, serving as safe havens for endangered species like tigers, elephants, and the Nilgiri tahr. The surrounding buffer and transition zones permit regulated activities such as sustainable forestry, ecotourism, and traditional tribal livelihoods. This multi-layered approach makes biosphere reserves more effective than isolated protected areas, as they maintain ecological corridors that allow wildlife movement and genetic exchange between different protected zones.

General · Class 12