Khangchendzonga biosphere reserve enters UNESCO list. Sikkim which is a very small country lies in between Nepal and Bhutan with a population of around 6 lakhs. It is a tourist place where 15 lakh tourist visits annually there. The Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve of Sikkim is the highest reserve in the country. It includes the third highest mountain peak in the world, Kanchenjunga(8586m). It is included in the UNESCO’S world network of biosphere reserve(WNBR). This is one of the highest ecosystems in the world, reaching elevations of 1220m to 8586m above sea level. With the inclusion of this biosphere reserve in WNBR, India’s number of reserve increased to 11.
Agasthyamalai biosphere is the last and Nilgiri biosphere reserve was the first reserve included in WNEB. There is a total 18 biosphere reserve in India. Among it, 11 are in the list of WNBR. At last, Khangchendzonga biosphere reserve enters UNESCO list.
Importance of KBR for Sikkim
As this biosphere reserve comprises 41% of the entire geographical area of the mountain state. The total area of KBR is 2931 sq.km out of which 1784 sq.km is the core area of the biosphere, 835 sq.km buffer areas and also 311 sq.km comprise transition area between habitation and biosphere reserve. The Khangchendzonga national park which comprises the core area of KBR. Of the total area of core zone, 86% of which lies in the Alpine zone and the remaining in the Himalayan wet temperate and also subtropical deciduous forest.
The KBR is one of the world’s 34 biodiversity hotspot. It has good species of diversity with high-level endemism with many mountains, rocks, hot spring. According to Sikkim forest department, there are 4500 species of flowering plants in KBR. It includes 424 medicinal plants, 36 rhododendrons, 60 species of primulas and also 11 varieties of oaks. It also includes 362 species of ferns, over 500 species and subspecies of birds. This makes our country beautiful and also is the responsibility of everyone to preserve it. So, beauty depends on individual duty. So, Khangchendzonga biosphere reserve enters UNESCO list is the new way towards tourism.
