List of Biosphere Reserves in India

List of Biosphere Reserves in India

Sno	Biosphere Reserve	Location in the State/UT
1	Nilgiri	Part of Wayanad, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Madumalai, Nilambur, Silent Valley and Siruvani Hills in Tamilnadu, Kerala and Karnataka
2	Nanda Devi	Part of Chamoli, Pithoragarh and Almora districts in Uttarakhand
3	Nokrek	Part of East West and South of Garohill districts in Meghalaya
4	Manas	Part of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamrup and Darang districts in Assam
5	Sunderban	Part of delta of Ganges & Brahmaputra river system in West Bengal
6	Gulf of Mannar	India part of Gulf of Mannar extending from Rameswaram island in the north to Kanyakumari in the south of Tamilnadu
7	Great Nicobar	Southern most island of Andaman and Nicobar islands
8	Similipal	Part of Mayurbhanj district of Orissa
9	Dibru-Saikhova	Part of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of Assam
10	Dehang-Dibang	Part of Upper Siang, West Siang and Dibang Valley districts of Arunachal Pradesh
11	Pachmarhi	Part of Betul,Hoshangabad and Chhindwara districts in Madhyapradesh
12	Khangchendzonga	Part of North and West districts of Sikkim
13	Agasthyamalai	Part of Thirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts in Tamilnadu and Thiruvanthapuram, Kollam and Pathnamthitta districts in Kerala
14	Achanakmar-Amarkantak	Part of Anuppur and Dindori districts of Madhyapradesh Bilaspur district of Chattisgarh
15	Kachchh	Part of Kachchh,Rajkot, Surendranagar and patan districts of Gujarat
16	Cold Desert	Pin Valley NationalPark and surroundings; Chandratal and Sarchu; and Kibber wild life sanctuary in HimachalPradesh
17	Seshachalam	Seshachalam Hill ranges in Eastern Ghats encompassing part of Chttoor and Kadapa districts in Andhrapradesh
18	Panna	Part of Panna and Chhattarpur districts in Madhyapradesh

List of Elephant Reserves in India

List of Elephant Reserves in India

Sno	Elephant Reserve	State
1	Mayur Jharna	West Bengal
2	Singhbum	Jharkhand
3	Mayurbhanj	Odisha
4	Mahanadi	Odisha
5	Sambalpur	Odisha
6	Badalkhol-Tamorpingla	Chattisgarh
7	Kameng	Arunachal Pradesh
8	Sonitpur	Assam
9	Dihing-Patkai	Assam
10	South Arunachal	Arunachal Pradesh
11	Kaziranga - Karbi Anglong	Assam
12	Dhansiri – Lungding	Assam
13	Intanki	Nagaland
14	Chirang – Ripu	Assam
15	Eastern Dooars	West Bengal
16	Garo Hills	Meghalaya
17	Mysore	Karnataka
18	Wayanad	Kerala
19	Nilgiri	Tamilnadu
20	Rayala	Andhra Pradesh
21	Nilambur	Kerala
22	Coimbatore	Tamilnadu
23	Anamalai	Tamilnadu
24	Anamudi	Kerala
25	Periyar	Kerala
26	Srivilliputtur	Tamilnadu
27	Shivalik	Uttarakhand
28	Uttar Pradesh	Uttar Pradesh

National River Conservation Plan

National River Conservation Plan

Objective: is to improve the water quality of the rivers, which are the major water sources in the country, through the implementation of the pollution abatement works.

So far 42 rivers have been selected under this programme.

The pollution abatement works taken up under this programme include

• Interception and diversion works to capture raw sewage flowing into the rivers through open drains and diverting them for treatment.
• Setting up of sewage treatment plants (STPs) for treating the diverted sewage.
• Construction of low cost sanitation toilets to prevent open defecation on river banks.
• Construction of Electric Crematoria to conserve the use of wood.
• River front development work such as improvement of bathing ghats.
• Afforestation on river banks.
• Public Participation and awareness building etc.

List of Rivers covered under  National River Conservation Plan

Sno	River
1	Adayar
2	Beas
3	Betwa
4	Beehar
5	Bhadra
6	Brahmani
7	Cauvery
8	Cooum
9	Chambal
10	Damodar
11	Dhipu & Dhansiri
12	Ganga
13	Ghaggar
14	Godavari
15	Gomati
16	Khan
17	Krishna
18	Kshipra
19	Mahanadi
20	Mandovi
21	Mandakini
22	Mahananda
23	Mindhola
24	Musi
25	Narmada
26	Pennar
27	Pamba
28	Panchganga
29	Rani Chu
30	Ramganga
31	Sabarmati
32	Satluj
33	Subarnarekha
34	Tapti
35	Tapi
36	Tunga
37	Tungabadra
38	Tamrabarani
39	Vaigai
40	Vennar
41	Wainganga
42	Yamuna

List of wetlands of International Importance in India under Ramsar Convention

List of wetlands of International Importance in India under Ramsar Convention

Sno	Name of the Wetland	State
1	Chandrataal	Himachal Pradesh
2	Renuka	Himachal Pradesh
3	Rudrasagar	Tripura
4	Upper Ganga	Uttar Pradesh
5	Hokarsar	Jammu and Kashmir
6	Surinar – Mansar	Jammu and Kashmir
7	Bhitarkanika Mangroves	Odisha
8	Bhoj Wetland	Madhya Pradesh
9	Deepor Beel	Asom
10	East Calcutta Wetlands	West Bengal
11	Kolleru Lake	Andhra Pradesh
12	Sasthamkotta Lake	Kerala
13	Ashtamudi	Kerala
14	Tsomoriri	Jammu and Kashmir
15	Vembanad – Kol wetland	Kerala
16	Point Calimere Sanctuary	Tamilnadu
17	Pong Dam Lake	Himachal Pradesh
18	Kanjli	Punjab
19	Ropar	Punjab
20	Harike Lake	Punjab
21	Loktak Lake	Manipur
22	Sambhar Lake	Rajasthan
23	Wular Lake	Jammu and Kashmir
24	Chilika Lake	Odisha
25	Keoladeo National Park	Rajasthan
26	Nalsarovar	Gujarat

List of Indian Biosphere Reserves included in UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Network

India has 18 Biosphere Reserves, out of these nine Biosphere Reserves have been included in UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Network. They are,

1. Nilgiri (Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka),
2. Gulf of Mannar(Tamil Nadu),
3. Sunderban  (West Bengal),
4. Nanda Devi,(Uttarakhand),
5. Pachmarhi (Madhya Pradesh),
6. Similipal(Orissa),
7. Nokrek  (Meghalaya), 
8. Achanakmar-Amarkantak(Chhattisgarh & Madhya Pradesh) and 
9. Great Nicobar 

List of UNESCO Natural World Heritage Sites in India

UNESCO has recognized six natural World Heritage Sites in India

1. Nanda Devi National Park,
2. Kaziranga National Park, 
3. Manas National Park, 
4. Keoladeo National Park, 
5. Sundarbans National Park and 
6. Serial cluster of 39 sites from Western Ghats spread over 4 States. 

The Valley of Flowers National Park has also been included in the list of World Heritage Sites as an extension of Nanda Devi National Park.

Tentative list of World Heritage Site nominations from India include

1. Bhitarkanika Conservation area, 
2. Desert National Park, Great 
3. Himalayan National Park, 
4. Kangchendzonga National Park, 
5. Namdhapha National Park, 
6. Neora Valley National Park, and 
7. Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch 

List of Environmental Laws in India

Following is a comprehensive list of Environmental laws made by the Government of India

• The Indian Forest Act, 1927
• The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,1960
• The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
• The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
• The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
• The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
• The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
• National Forest Policy, 1988
• Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989
• The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991
• Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), 1991 -under The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
• The National Environment Tribunal Act, 1995
• Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation) Rules, 2000
• Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000
• Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act of 2001
• Biological Diversity Act, 2002
• The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006
• Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules 2010
• National Green Tribunal Act, 2010

Critically Endangered Species of India booklet by Ministry of Environment and Forests - free download

About the booklet

• Released in 2011 
• Released by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in collaboration with Zoological Survey of India 
•  Covers 
•  Criteria for Critically endangered species 
• Birds 
• Mammals 
• Reptiles 
• Amphibians 
• Fish 
• Spiders  and
• Corals

 Click on the below link to download the file

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2lrHcS2MH0vNmRWcEhJLVpHWnFCellFaXcwejZrbTNCODB3/view?usp=sharing

Important Species of India - Crocodiles

Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) :

Mugger crocodile

• The mugger crocodile, also called the Indian crocodile, or marsh crocodile, is found throughout the Indian subcontinent. 
• It is listed as vulnerable by IUCN.
• This crocodile is the most common and widespread of the three species of crocodiles in India.
• The mugger is mainly a freshwater species, and found in lakes, rivers and marshes.

Important Species Of India - Elephant

Indian Elephant

The Indian Elephant (Elephas maximus indicus) :

• The Indian Elephant is listed as endangered by IUCN. 
• Elephants inhabit grasslands, dry deciduous, moist deciduous, evergreen and semi-evergreen forests.

Important Species Of India - Dogs, Bears

Dogs

The Indian Wild Dog or the Dhole (Cuon alpinus) :

Dhole

• The dholes are classified as endangered by the IUCN.
• Dholes are found in the central Indian Highlands and the Western and Eastern Ghats, northeast India's states and in Ladakh.
• Threats to dholes include habitat loss, depletion of its prey base, competition from other predators, diseases from domestic and feral dogs.

Important Species Of India - Monkeys, Langurs, Apes

Monkeys

The Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta) :

Rhesus Macaque

• It is also called as the rhesus monkey.
• It is one of the best known monkey species. 
• It is listed as Least Concern by IUCN.
• Found throughout Norhern India.
• The threats to this species include hunting, habitat degradation and fragmentation.

Important Species of India - Wild Ass, Gaur, Yak, Wild Buffalo and Rhinoceros

The Indian Wild Ass (Equus hemionus khur) :

The Indian Wild Ass

• it is the only wild ass found in India
• It is Classified as endangered by IUCN.

Distribution :

• Its last refuge lies in the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch and its surrounding areas of the Great Rann of Kutch in the Gujarat province of India.
• Saline deserts (rann), arid grasslands and shrublands are its preferred environments.

Threats : 

• Disease
• habitat degradation due to salt activities, 
• the invasion of the Prosopis juliflora shrub, and 
• encroachment and grazing by the Maldhari.

Important Species of India - Antelopes and Deers

The Chinkara or Indian Gazelle (Gazella gazelle) :

The Chinkara

• The Chinkara is a gazelle found in India. 
• It is listed as Least Concern by IUCN.

Distribution : 

• It is found in grassland and desert habitats.

Threats : 

• The population of chinkaras is in sharp decline due to hunting for game.

Important Species of India - Cats

The Tiger (Panthera tigris) :

The Tiger (Panthera tigris)

• The subspecies found in India is Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris).
•  It is classified as endangered by IUCN.

Distribution : 

• The bengal tigers inhabit tropical moist evergreen forests, tropical dry forests, tropical and subtropical moist deciduous forests, mangroves, subtropical and temperate upland forests, and alluvial grasslands.  
• The major tiger conservation units in India are Manas-Namdapha, Hazaribagh National Park, Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, Kanha-Indravati, Panna National Park, Melghat Tiger Reserve, Ratapani Tiger Reserve,  Kaziranga-Meghalaya, Kanha-Pench, Simlipal, Indravati Tiger Reserves, Periyar, Kalakad-Mundathurai, Bandipur and Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary.

Wetland, Swamp, Marsh, Bog, Fen and Mangrove

A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, such that it takes on characteristics that distinguish it as a distinct ecosystem. The water found in wetlands can be saltwater, freshwater, or brackish.

There are four major kinds of wetlands: swamps, marshes, bogs and fens.

A swamp is a wetland that is forested.

Swamp

 

A marsh is a type of wetland that is dominated by herbaceous rather than woody plant species

Marsh

 

A bog is a wetland that accumulates peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses, and in a majority of cases, Sphagnum moss.

Bog

A fen is one of the four main types of wetland, and is usually fed by mineral-rich surface water or groundwater.

Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes 25° N and 25° S

Mangrove

The Tiger population estimation procedure of India

The current tiger estimation is based on the established scientific methods. The earlier pugmark counting method was considered flawed because of the inflated number of tiger population.

The present scientific tiger estimation procedure involves rigorous statistical analyses. The statistical data is obtained in three phases and involves ground surveys, analyses of satellite data and camera traps.

The three phases of the Tiger Estimation Procedure

Phase I: Ground survey data at the beat level was collected by field personnel in a standardised protocol after training.

Phase II: Statistical and satellite data were analysed by the Wildlife Institute of India in collaboration with the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

Phase III: The camera trapping procedure was conducted by research biologists.

The population of the tiger was estimated in 17 Indian states. The results from this procedure indicate that tiger populations are viable within Protected Areas but are under threat outside them.

This data is a crucial component of Project Tiger and is used to:

• Measure the present status of tiger populations across the 17 tiger States in the country.
• Develop effective strategies to strengthen future tiger conservation programs.

Source: http://moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/Tiger%20Estimation.pdf

WWF Priority species of India - Lesser known species

http://www.wwfindia.org/about_wwf/priority_species/lesser_known_species/

Fishing Cat

Ganges Shark

Great Indian Bustard

Himalayan Quail

Hoolock Gibbon

House Sparrow

Kaiser-i-Hind butterfly

Nicobar Pigeon

Olive ridley Turtle

Chinese Pangolin

Purple Frog - Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis

Rameshwaram Ornamental Spider

Red Line Torpedo Barb

Sarus Crane

Slender Loris

White Winged Wood Duck

http://www.wwfindia.org/about_wwf/priority_species/lesser_known_species/

WWF Priority species of India

http://www.wwfindia.org/about_wwf/priority_species/

Asiatic Elephant

Asiatic Lion

Bengal Tiger

Black Necked Crane

Gharial

Nilgiri Tahr

Great Asian One-Horned Rhino

Red Panda

Smooth coated Otter

Snow Leopard

Ganges River Dolphin © François Xavier PELLETIER/WWF-Canon

http://www.wwfindia.org/about_wwf/priority_species/

Animal Species of India

Animal
Black Buck	True antelope
Nilgai	Largest dryland herbivore
Himalayan Tahr	Related to wild goat
Nilgiri  Tahr	Closely related to sheep
One-Horned Rhinoceros or Indian Rhinoceros	Found in Assam
Asatic Lion	Found only in Gir National Park
Snow Leopard	Found on himalayan slopes
Dhole or Indian Wild Dog	Highly social animal
Pigmy Hog	Found in Assam
Leopard	One of the five big cats found in India
Clouded Leopard	Found in Himalyan Foothills
Cheetah	Extinct in India

Blackbuck 

Nilgai

Himalayan tahr

Nilgiri Tahr

One-horned Rhinoceros

Snow Leopard

Dhole / Indian wild dog

Clouded Leopard