Overview

• The listing raises India’s count in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves to 13.
• Spanning about 7,770 sq km in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul-Spiti, the reserve includes Pin Valley National Park, Kibber and Chandratal.
• It is India’s first high-altitude cold desert in the network and ranks among the coldest, driest ecosystems recognized by UNESCO.
• UNESCO highlights rich biodiversity with 732 vascular plant species and iconic fauna such as the snow leopard, Himalayan ibex, blue sheep and Himalayan wolf, alongside traditional livelihoods for roughly 12,000 residents.
• UNESCO approved 26 new biosphere reserves this year to reach 785 sites in 142 countries, with officials expecting the Cold Desert listing to boost research, snow-leopard conservation, climate resilience and responsible tourism.