Author(s): N. Roychoudhury, Ruby Sharma and Rajesh Kumar Mishra*

Affiliation: *ICFRE-Tropical Forest Research Institute, P. O. RFRC, Mandla Road, Jabalpur-482021, Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract: Achanakmar-Amarkanatak biosphere reserve (AABR) of India has been included under the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) by the International Council of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) meeting in Paris, 2012. This biosphere reserve is the ecologically diverse, less developed and least disturbed area, which falls under Deccan Peninsula biogeographic zone of tropical dry and moist deciduous forests biome of India. The forest land is protected in the core zone of AABR, while forests, agricultural and rehabilitated land in small suburban clusters are found in the buffer and transition zones. Twenty-seven tribal and non-tribal communities inhabit 418 villages living on agriculture (including the production of medicinal plants) and non-timber products produced in the buffer and transition zones. The biosphere reserve is dominated by moist deciduous forests and provide diverse habitat to various flora and fauna. The biosphere reserve is blessed with a total of 1738 identified floral species consisting of algae (7), fungi (238), lichens (184), bryophytes (44), pteridophytes (53), gymnosperms (16) and angiosperms (1196) that include monocots (335) and dicots (861). They yield spices, food, Ayurvedic medicines and timbers. Around 184 species of plants have been identified for their ethno botanical uses. Besides these, there are 389 identified faunal species consisting of 179 species of invertebrates that include centipedes (5), butterflies (66), moths (66), beetles (41) and cricket (1) and 210 species of vertebrates that include pisces (16), amphibians (10), reptiles (15), aves (144) and mammals (27). The biosphere reserve supports animals like tiger, bison, bear, spotted deer, barking deer, panther, wild cat, fox, wild dog, sambhar, four horned antelope, mouse deer etc. The scope and challenges are discussed in the light of the conservation and management of bio-resource of Achanakmar-Amarkantak biosphere reserve, a paradise of biological diversity.

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