Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve: UNESCO's Recognition & India's Responsibility

The inclusion of Himachal Pradesh’s Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve in the prestigious UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) is a moment of pride for India and people of the hilly state. At the 37th session of UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB) in Paris, the decision elevated India’s tally of such globally valued sites to thirteen. Spread across 7,770 sq. km of the Lahaul-Spiti district, this cold desert represents one of the most fragile and rare ecosystems in the world.

Perched between 3,300 and 6,600 metres above sea level, the reserve encompasses Pin Valley National Park, Chandratal and Kibber sanctuaries, alpine lakes, and glacial valleys. It sustains 732 species of vascular plants, including 30 endemics, along with iconic fauna such as the snow leopard, Himalayan ibex, blue sheep, and golden eagle. It is also home to nearly 12,000 people whose livelihoods rest on yak and goat herding, barley cultivation, and traditional Tibetan medicine, often nurtured by Buddhist monastic institutions.

This international honour, however, is a double-edged sword. While it promises global attention, funding, and tourism opportunities, it also places on UNESCO, the Himachal Pradesh government, and local communities an enormous responsibility to protect a landscape already under strain.

Status of India’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites

India has 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (36 cultural, 7 natural, 1 mixed), and their condition is mixed. While many monuments and natural reserves are well-managed, several face site-specific threats. The Taj Mahal and Agra’s monuments are stressed by air pollution and river-flow changes; the Sundarbans suffer from sea-level rise, erosion, and salinity; the Western Ghats face biodiversity loss from development; and Kaziranga, despite successful rhino protection, remains vulnerable to floods and infrastructure pressures. Cultural sites like Hampi, Ajanta–Ellora, and Red Fort are conserved but strained by urban pollution, encroachment, and tourist pressure. Overall, though not collapsing, most sites require stronger conservation, climate adaptation, and pollution control to safeguard their future.

Challenges Ahead

The first and most formidable challenge is climate change. Glacial retreat in the trans-Himalayan region is not just a local issue but a global concern. The cold desert is already witnessing erratic snowfall and shrinking pastures. The melting of glaciers threatens both biodiversity and water security for downstream populations.

Second, balancing tourism with conservation poses a policy dilemma. UNESCO recognition inevitably attracts more tourists. Eco-tourism, if regulated, can benefit villagers, but uncontrolled inflows—as seen in Manali, Leh and Shimla—risk turning fragile landscapes into dumping grounds. The Himachal government must create strict carrying-capacity limits, waste disposal systems, and guidelines for homestays and hotels.

Third, livelihood pressures are mounting. While pastoralism and subsistence farming are sustainable in moderation, increasing demand for cash crops and infrastructure development threatens to stretch resources. Residents, inspired by modern lifestyles, aspire for more roads, markets, and connectivity, which if unplanned, could undermine the very ecosystem that supports them.

Fourth, coordination bottlenecks between agencies remain. Conservation in India often suffers from bureaucratic overlaps. UNESCO’s designation means little unless the Union Environment Ministry, state government, forest department, and local councils work in unison with a clear roadmap.

Fifth, illegal exploitation of medicinal herbs and wildlife poses another concern. Rare species such as willow-leaved sea-buckthorn, Himalayan juniper, and Persian birch are at risk of overharvesting. Poaching of snow leopards and wolves, though reduced, cannot be ruled out. Without strong monitoring and enforcement, UNESCO’s recognition may remain symbolic rather than substantive.

Responsibilities of Himachal Government

The Himachal Pradesh government now shoulders a critical responsibility to ensure that the UNESCO tag does not merely become a showcase trophy. It must strictly regulate tourism inflows by setting carrying-capacity rules, checking unregulated hotel construction, and establishing scientific waste management systems before fragile valleys are overwhelmed. Infrastructure expansion in Lahaul-Spiti should be eco-friendly, relying on solar power, rainwater harvesting, and green building norms. The state must invest in scientific monitoring, collaborating with institutions like the Wildlife Institute of India to track glaciers, biodiversity, and wildlife corridors. Diversification of livelihoods through herbal medicine cooperatives, handicrafts, and eco-tourism enterprises can reduce dependence on overgrazing and fragile pastures. Finally, the government must involve local panchayats and monasteries as formal partners in biosphere governance, turning conservation into a bottom-up process.

Responsibilities of Lahaul-Spiti Residents

Equally, the residents of this cold desert must embrace their role as custodians of the ecosystem. For centuries, they have lived in fragile harmony with nature; now, the global spotlight makes their role even more significant. They must preserve traditional knowledge of Tibetan medicine, grazing cycles, and community water-sharing, ensuring these practices are not abandoned under the lure of modern consumerism. Eco-conscious livelihoods must be prioritised—through homestays, guided treks, and cultural exchanges that generate income without damaging the ecosystem. Responsible grazing and farming are essential. Collective regulation of herd sizes and crop choices can prevent overuse of alpine pastures.  As the first line of defence, villagers must act as watchdogs against illegal herb trade, poaching, and encroachment, reporting violations to authorities. Above all, the youth of Lahaul-Spiti must engage with eco-tourism, organic farming, and digital platforms that link their traditional culture with modern opportunities.

Benefits of UNESCO Recognition

Despite challenges, the benefits of inclusion in WNBR are substantial. The first is global visibility. The Cold Desert now stands on the same platform as the Amazon or African savannahs, opening access to international research, funding, and conservation networks.

Second, it offers a boost to sustainable tourism. Himachal Pradesh, often criticised for promoting unsustainable hill tourism, now has a chance to present a model of eco-tourism that prioritises conservation. Homestays, guided treks, and cultural immersion in Buddhist monasteries can create jobs while preserving traditions.

Third, community empowerment is central to UNESCO’s biosphere model. Local councils and monasteries, which historically regulated the use of fragile alpine resources, can now play a formal role in decision-making. This strengthens the bond between heritage, spirituality, and ecology.

Fourth, the reserve will serve as a climate change laboratory. With its extreme altitudes and desert conditions, it can provide invaluable data on how ecosystems respond to global warming. This will help policymakers across the globe frame adaptation strategies for high-altitude regions.

Why Such Sites Decline

The Cold Desert’s recognition must also be viewed against the backdrop of why many Himalayan sites have declined.

One major factor is unregulated tourism. The rise of commercial resorts and hydropower projects in Himachal and Ladakh has damaged biodiversity. Popular spots such as Rohtang and Pangong Lake already show signs of degradation from plastic waste and vehicular emissions.

Second, overgrazing has degraded alpine meadows. What was once small-scale pastoralism has, under economic pressure, turned into overexploitation. Yaks and goats, when allowed to graze beyond carrying capacity, erode vegetation and expose fragile soil to erosion.

Third, migration and cultural erosion are weakening traditional knowledge systems. Younger generations leave villages for towns, taking with them a disconnect from ecological wisdom passed down through monasteries and elders. The loss of Tibetan herbal knowledge reduces the community’s role as custodian of biodiversity.

Fourth, weak law enforcement has contributed to habitat destruction. Despite being declared protected areas, sanctuaries in Himachal often suffer from illegal grazing, encroachment, and mining activities.

Fifth, the climate crisis is exacerbating all these pressures. Warming in the Himalayas is nearly double the global average. Erratic snowfall patterns, glacial retreat, and desertification are rapidly altering ecosystems. Conservation efforts often lag behind these fast-paced changes.

Conclusion

The Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve is a jewel in the crown of the Indian Himalayas. Its rugged beauty, spiritual depth, and ecological wealth now enjoy global recognition. But recognition without responsibility will turn into regret. The Himachal government and the people of Lahaul-Spiti must rise to the occasion by balancing livelihoods with conservation, modernity with tradition.

India must therefore seize this moment not only to showcase its ecological heritage but to ensure that it survives for future generations. The world is watching how Himachal Pradesh, in partnership with UNESCO and its own residents, manages this delicate balance. The Cold Desert has endured for centuries as a silent sentinel of resilience. The challenge now is whether human wisdom can match nature’s patience.

(The writer is a senior political analyst and strategic affairs columnist based in Shimla)

Published on: Thursday, October 02, 2025, 10:05 AM IST