Spiti Valley Recognized as India's First Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve
In a recent announcement during the 37th international coordination council (MAB-ICC), Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh has been officially recognised as India's first Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program. This meeting took place in Hangzhou, China between 26 September to 28 September, 2025.
Spiti valley lies in the Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. It covers an area of around 7,770 km2, encompassing the entire Spiti Wildlife Division and adjoining areas of the Lahaul forest division. This region has some unique topography. It includes hills or mountains ranging from 3300-6600 metres along with plateaus, alpine lakes, glacial valleys and high-altitude cold deserts. There are also some popular areas such as the Pin Valley National Park, Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandratal Wetland, and the Sarchu plains.
This reserve is divided into 3 different zones -
Core zone: covers an area of around 2665 km2
Buffer zone: covers an area of 3977 km2
Transition zone: a 1128 km2 area.
These structured zones aim to balance conservation efforts with sustainable development and community engagement.
The Spiti valley biosphere reserve is home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna. It consists of multiple species of herbs, shrubs, trees along with popular wildlife and bird species such as Himalayan Ibex, Himalayan Marmot, Tibetan Antelope, Himalayan Griffon and Golden Eagle.
This biosphere reserve consists of over 655 herb species, 41 shrub species and 17 tree species. Most of the herb, shrub and tree species are endemic and have significant medicinal use. It is also home to the flagship species of the Snow Leopards and that too with a robust prey base of over 800 blue sheep.
With this new identity, India now has 13 Biosphere Reserves in total and this achievement reflects the efforts and contribution of the state government. It highlights the unique ecology, culture, climate and heritage of the Spiti valley region. Not only its ecology, the sustainable development in this region is also remarkable. It shows the harmony of people, local communities with nature while cooperating with each other. The local communities in the Spiti valley region are playing a vital role in showcasing the significance of this area. As India's first high-altitude cold desert biosphere reserve, it is certain that it will boost India’s eco-tourism and overall growth.
