Panna Biosphere Reserve Included in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves List

The International Co-ordinating Council of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB-ICC) added Panna National Park in Madhya Pradesh, India to UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves. In a meeting held on October 27-28, MAB-ICC approved the addition of Panna Biosphere Reserve along with 25 other sites in 18 countries. Now, the World Network of Biosphere Reserve has a total of 714 sites now.

Located in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, Panna is known as a critical tiger habitat area and hosts the Panna Tiger Reserve. It is also known for an abundance of rare medicinal plants as well as other non-timber forestry products, such as Kattha, gum and resins.

Panna National Park Added to UNESCO’s Biosphere Reserves List

Interesting Facts about Panna Biosphere Reserve

It was declared as the 22nd Tiger Reserve of India and the 5th in Madhya Pradesh in the year of 1994.
Panna was given the Award of Excellence in 2007 as the best maintained national park of India by the Ministry of Tourism of India.
The park is known for its rich population of tigers, deer, antelopes, vultures, chinkara, and cheetal.
In 2009, Panna lost all its tigers but the number of tigers in the reserve rose to 52 in 10 years, after being monitored through radio collars by

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.What is Panna National Park known for?

Panna is known for its wildlife conservation efforts and a rich population of tigers.

Q.Which other sites have been added to UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves other than Panna?

UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB-ICC) added 25 sites including Panna Biosphere Reserve. Following are the sites that are included in the list:

Ordino Biosphere Reserve (Andorra)
Complex W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) Biosphere Reserve (Benin, Burkina-Faso, Niger)
Oueme Lower Valley Biosphere Reserve (Benin)
Fogo Biosphere Reserve (Cabo Verde)
Maio Biosphere Reserve (Cabo Verde)
Mwali Biosphere Reserve (Comoros)
Asterousia Mountain Range Biosphere Reserve (Greece)
Bunaken Tangkoko Minahasa Biosphere Reserve (Indonesia)
Karimunjawa-Jepara-Muria Biosphere Reserve (Indonesia)
Merapi Merbabu Menoreh Biosphere Reserve (Indonesia)
Almaty Biosphere Reserve (Kazakhstan)
West Altai Biosphere Reserve (Kazakhstan)
Minett Biosphere Reserve (Luxembourg)
Addu Atoll Biosphere Reserve (Maldives)
Fuvahmulah Biosphere Reserve (Maldives)
Toson-Khulstai Biosphere Reserve (Mongolia)
Hadejia Nguru Bade Biosphere Reserve (Nigeria)
Oban Biosphere Reserve (Nigeria)
Okangwo Biosphere Reserve (Nigeria)
Bosques de Neblina – Selva Central Biosphere Reserve (Peru)
Island of Porto Santo Biosphere Reserve (Portugal)
Kologrivsky Forest Biosphere Reserve (Russian Federation)
North-East Tobago Biosphere Reserve (Trinidad and Tobago)

Q.What is the tiger population in Panna Biosphere Reserve?

Around 52 tigers inhabit Panna Biosphere Reserve.

Q.What are the major animals found in the Panna Biosphere Reserve?

Tigers, deer, antelopes, vultures, chinkara, and cheetal are some of the major animals found in Panna Biosphere Reserve.

Published: 29 Oct, 2020

About the author

Nidhi Singh

From the Lake District, Nainital, Nidhi Singh is a travel writer whose love for mountains can be seen in her write ups. Talk about solo travelling, indulging in adventure activities, binging on good food, planning budget trips or the Aurora Borealis and you will get all her attention. It is the wanderlust that keeps her going and if at all she could get one wish granted she would love to live a life less ordinary. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram.