Context: Recently, Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Madhya Pradesh (MP) was included in the global network of biosphere reserves by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) .

• The reserve has joined world network of biosphere reserves. 
• This is the third biosphere in State following Pachmarhi and Amarkantak, the first two. 
• Panna was notified as biosphere reserve by Ministry of Environment and Forest in the Year 2011.

Reason behind this tag

• UNESCO has allotted the reserve as Biosphere Reserve status after it brought the tiger population back from zero to 54 within ten years. 
• About ten years back, tigers were vanished from the reserve and then forest department re-introduced the big cats in its ambitious plan.

Panna tiger reserve

• It is situated in the Vindhyan mountain range of Panna and Chhatarpur districts in Madhya Pradesh.
• In 1994, this park was included as India’s 22nd tiger reserve.
• Panna was notified a biosphere reserve by the Ministry of Environment in 2011.
• River Ken flows through the panna tiger reserve.
• It links the eastern and western populations of wild animals through the Vindhyan ranges.
• It is home to the World Heritage site of Khajuraho temples.
• Concern: Ken-Betwa linking project requires diversion of forest land of Panna Tiger Reserve.

Flora

• The reserve has dry and short grass habitat with extensive open woodlands. 
• The tree species Khair dominates the dry steep slopes of the plateaus in this park.
• It is characterized by forests and marshy vegetation, with an abundance of rare medicinal plants and non-timber forest products, such as kattha, gum and resin.

Fauna

• Tiger, leopard, nilgai, chinkara, chousinga, chital, rusty spotted cat, porcupine, and sambhar.
• Gharials (long snouted crocodiles) and muggars (marsh crocodiles) can be found in River Ken. 

About UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme

• UNESCO’s (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) is an Intergovernmental Scientific Programme that was launched in 1971.
• Aim: To establish a scientific basis for the improvement of relationships between people and their environments.
• It proposes interdisciplinary research, demonstration and training in natural resources management.
• It provides a unique platform for cooperation on three interlinked issues: biodiversity loss, climate change and sustainable development.
• There are 714 biosphere reserves in 129 countries, including 21 transboundary sites.
• Under the programme, Protection is granted not only to the flora and fauna of the protected region, but also to the human communities who inhabit these regions, and their ways of life.
• Tamil Nadu’s Niligiri Biosphere Reserve was the first of India’s reserves to make it to UNESCO’s list in 2000.

India's list of world network of biosphere reserves under MAB

NOTE: Kindly considered Panna under UNESCO list.
What are Biosphere Reserves? 

• UNESCO launched the Man and Biosphere (MAB) program in 1975 which introduced the concept of Biosphere Reserves.
• Biosphere reserves are the protected areas which aims to preserve the genetic diversity of the ecosystem. It helps to protect not only the flora and fauna of the region, but also the inhabitants (tribal people) who live in the protected area.
• They are included in IUCN Category V Protected Area. They remain under national government's jurisdiction.
• A biosphere reserve generally included one or more national parks or wildlife sanctuaries.

A biosphere consists of three zone
a) Core zone 

• Inner most part of biosphere reserve
• Legally protected,
• Completely undisturbed from human intervention

b) Buffer zone

• surrounds core zone,
• research and educational activities are allowed
• Promote eco-tourism activities

c) Transition zone

• outermost part of biosphere reserve
• there exist cooperation between local people and management of reserve.
• Human activities like cropping, afforestation, settlement, plantation of medicinal hers, soil conservation and recreation is allowed  

Key Facts

• How many biosphere reserves are there in India?  18
• How many biosphere reserves are part of World Network of Biosphere Reserve?  12
• Which is the first biosphere reserve in India?  Nilgiri (1986)
• Which Biosphere Reserve from India was most recently included in World Network of Biosphere Reserve?  Panna (2020)
• Which is the smallest biosphere reserve in India?   Panna 
• Which is the largest biosphere reserve in India?   Rann Of Kutch
• Which is the first marine biosphere reserve in India?  Gulf Of Mannar