Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve

Geography glossary

Topic: Biodiversity and its Conservation · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 5 "Natural Vegetation"

Meaning

Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve was set up in 2005. It lies across Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, in the Maikal hills, where two rivers begin: the Narmada and the Son. It is a biosphere reserve, which means a large natural area divided into three zones:

  • a core zone, protected by law, where people may not disturb nature
  • a buffer zone, used for research and limited use
  • a transition zone, where people live and use resources carefully

It is on UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves, which is part of the Man and Biosphere Programme, a UNESCO plan (1971) to help people and nature live well together. It matters because it protects the forests around the sources of two major Indian rivers.

Example

The Narmada rises at Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh, inside this reserve, and flows west to the Arabian Sea. The Son rises nearby and flows north-east to join the Ganga. The forests of Achanakmar lie in neighbouring Chhattisgarh.

Don't confuse with

  • Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve: also in Madhya Pradesh and also on UNESCO's list, but it lies in the Satpura range, not the Maikal hills, and no major river begins there.
  • Wildlife sanctuary / national park: these are declared under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. A biosphere reserve is a central government scheme, not a category under that Act.

Related concepts

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