UNESCO 37th MAB-ICC Session 2025, Hangzhou (China)

Current Context: The 37th Session of UNESCO’s International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme was held from 26–28 Sept 2025 in Hangzhou, China, alongside the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves.

• It approved the addition of 26 new biosphere reserves, bringing the global total to 759 across 136 countries.
• India’s Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve (Himachal Pradesh) was included, raising India’s tally to 13 UNESCO biosphere reserves.
• The session also reviewed the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, youth participation, and presented the MAB Young Scientists & Michel Batisse Awards.
• Over 4,000 delegates from 150+ countries participated, making it a landmark global conservation event.

Question:

Q.1 Which Indian biosphere reserve was newly included in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves in Sept 2025?
a) Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve
b) Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve
c) Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
d) Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve

Answer: b) India’s Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve (Himachal Pradesh) was added in 2025, taking India’s UNESCO biosphere reserves count to 13.