Three sanctuaries and a biological park: the Kerala share of the Agasthyamalai reserve
Background
Biosphere Reserves are relatively larger areas that stand for landscape level conservation, beyond even state or nation borders.
The Kerala Forest Department records that the Biosphere Reserve concept was introduced by UNESCO under its Man and Biosphere Programme.
A Biosphere Reserve is a voluntary, co-operative conservation area created to protect the biological and cultural diversity of a region while promoting sustainable economic development.
Kerala has two of them: Nilgiri, which extends into Karnataka, and Agasthyamalai, which stretches into Tamil Nadu.
The Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve has an extent of 1828 sq km, against 1455.40 sq km for the Nilgiri reserve.
Its Kerala part takes in the Neyyar, Peppara and Shendurney wildlife sanctuaries, the Achencoil, Thenmala, Konni, Punalur and Thiruvananthapuram divisions, and the Agasthyavanam Biological Park Range.
In plain words
Biosphere Reserve A co-operative conservation area under the UNESCO programme — A large area where conservation of nature and culture is combined with sustainable development.
MAB Man and Biosphere Programme — The UNESCO programme under which Biosphere Reserves are recognised.