Forests, Biosphere Reserves & Wildlife Protected Areas
India's botanical and faunal biodiversity is protected across a network of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves, and Biosphere Reserves established under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR), tropical moist and dry deciduous forests constitute the largest forest categories by area, followed by tropical wet evergreen forests in the Western Ghats and North-East. The country hosts four globally recognized biodiversity hotspots: the Western Ghats, the Himalayas, Indo-Burma, and Sundaland. Flagship conservation programs such as Project Tiger (1973) and Project Elephant (1992) maintain critical ecological corridors, while 18 Biosphere Reserves (12 within UNESCO's World Network) safeguard regional biomes.
Key Concepts & Examination Highlights
- Madhya Pradesh holds the largest forest cover by area among all Indian states, according to the Forest Survey of India.
- Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand, established in 1936 as Hailey National Park, is India's oldest national park.
- The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, established in 1986, was India's first designated Biosphere Reserve spanning Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka.
- Project Tiger was launched on April 1, 1973, to protect the Bengal tiger and preserve critical forest ecosystems.