2401:4900:51D8:9826:205E:63D0:CC15:DC42 at 11:18, 30 May 2021

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{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2013}}

{{Infobox protected area
| name = Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve
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| location = Chhattisgarh, India; Madhya Pradesh, India
| nearest_city = Mungeli, Bilaspur
| coords = {{coord|22|06|31|N|81|44|53|E|region:IN|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coords_ref = <ref name=unesco />
| area_ha = 383551
| established = 2005
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The '''Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve''' is a [[World Network of Biosphere Reserves|biosphere reserve]] in India that extends across the states of [[Madhya Pradesh]] and [[Chhattisgarh]], covering a total area of 383,551 hectares (3835.51 km2).<ref name=unesco />

==Location==

The reserve is located in the northern part of Bio-Geographic zone 6 and Bio-Geographic province 6 A (Deccan peninsula and Central highlands). About 68.1% of this reserve lies in the [[Bilaspur district, Chhattisgarh|Bilaspur district]] in Chhattisgarh. The other major portions of the reserve are in the [[Anuppur]] (16.20%) and [[Dindori district|Dindori]] (15.70%) districts of Madhya Pradesh. The protected area of the [[Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary]] is located in the Bilaspur district within the Biosphere Reserve.

== Geography ==
The achanakmar amarkantak biosphere reserve ID divided into core buffer and transition zones
Core zone of 551.55 km2 in chhattishgarh and the amarkantak Wildlife sanctuary is in core zone. The buffer zone and transition zone is of 3284.36 km2. The buffer zone is spread across 2 states; an area of 1224.98 km2 lies in the Madhya Pradesh and the remaining area of 2059.38 km2 is in Chhattisgarh. The topography of the biosphere reserve varies from the lowland [[Paddy field|rice fields]] in Bilaspur and Anuppur and the wheat fields in Dindori to the hills of the [[Maikal Hills|Maikal]] range of [[Satpura Range|Satpuras]]. The [[topography]] of the soil in the Amarkantak plateau is [[bauxite]] rocks. Several streams and Nallas flow through the reserve, many of which are not perennial. The area of the Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve is considered to be one of the major watersheds of peninsular India. It separates the rivers that drain into the [[Arabian Sea]] and the [[Bay of Bengal]]. The reserve is also the source of three major river systems: the [[Narmada River|Narmada]], the [[Johilla]] and the [[Son River]].<ref name=BRIS /> Maikal hill ranges together with [[Vindhya Range|Vindhya]] and [[Satpura Range|Satpura]] lie within the Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve.

==Climate==

The typical [[monsoon climate]] of the reserve has three distinct seasons: Summer (March–June), Rainy (July–October), and Winter (November–February). The months of May and June are generally the hottest in the reserve, while the coolest months are December and January. The south-western monsoon brings rainfall to the area during the months of June to September.

==Flora==

The natural vegetation in the Achanakmar-Bilaspur Biosphere Reserve varies across the reserve. The forest area of the reserve has tropical deciduous vegetation and it can be classified into Northern Tropical Moist [[Deciduous]] and Southern Dry Mixed Deciduous forests. The reserve is quite rich in plant diversity, having a combination of different climatic and [[edaphic]] conditions at various altitudes. The region provides shelter to various [[thallophyte]], [[bryophyte]], [[pteridophyte]], [[gymnosperm]], and [[angiosperm]] species.<ref name=unesco /> Almost 1500 plant species<ref name=unesco /> representing over 151 plant families can be found in the reserve. Several angiosperm species are found in the Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve. Some of the important species include [[Thalictrum]] sp., ''Dillenia pentagyna'', ''Cocculus hirsutus'', ''[[Flacourtia indica]]'', ''Talinium portulacifolium'', ''Tamarix ericoides'', ''[[Abelmoschus ficulneus]]'', ''[[Hibiscus subdariffa]]'', ''[[Corchorus fascicularis]]'', ''[[Grewia rothii]]'', [[Biophytum]] sp., [[Oxalis]] sp., ''[[Tropaeolum majus]]'', ''[[Gloriosa superba]]'', ''[[Curcuma aromatica]]'', Dioscore sp., ''[[Chlorophytum tuberosum]]'', ''[[Curculigo orchioides]]'', and ''Hypercum japonicum''. Many planted gymnosperms have also been localized in the Amarkantak plateau and have adapted to the local environmental conditions of the area. Some of them are considered as [[Endemism|endemic species]]; these include ''[[Cupressus torulosa]]'', ''Thuja orientalis'', ''[[Araucaria bidwillii]]'', ''[[Pinus caribaea]]'', ''[[Pinus elliottii]]'', ''P. gregaii'', ''P. kesiya'', ''P. mountzumae'', ''[[Pinus oocarpa]]'', ''[[Pinus patula]]'', ''[[Pinus ponderosa]]'', ''[[Pinus pseudostrobus]]'', ''[[Pinus roxburghii]]'', ''[[Pinus serotina]]'', ''[[Cedrus deodara]]'', [[Juniperus]] sp., and [[Taxodium]] sp. Apart from these, more than 105 species of [[medicinal plants]] are found in the Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve, of which 25 species are considered rare.

[[File:Wild Bamboo Mushroom Collection.jpg|thumb|Illegal Wild Bamboo Mushroom Collection in Achanakmar-amarkantak biosphere reserve, India during rainy season.]]

==Fauna==

The faunal composition of the Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve is quite rich. More diverse and flourishing populations of wildlife can be found in the Achanakmar Sanctuary than in any other reserved forest area-including the Biosphere Reserve. The main reason for this is better protection and improved habitat conditions in the Sanctuary, due to strict conservation actions. According to the 2004 census, the Achanakmar Sanctuary is home to 26 tigers, 46 panthers, 28 bears, 1936 [[Chital]]s, 1369 [[Sambar deer|sambars]], 376 [[Muntjac|barking deers]] and 552 bison ([[gaur]]). Other important fauna species found in the reserve include the [[blackbuck]], [[chinkara]], [[Gray wolf|wolves]], [[foxes]], [[Jackal]]s, [[wild boar]], [[monkeys samarth]] and [[Giant Squirrel|giant squirrels]]. Besides the rich variety of mammal fauna species, the reserve also provides natural habitat to 170 bird species belonging to 51 families. More than 13 species of snakes and lizards, along with several species of frogs ([[cricket frog]], burrowing frog, [[tree frog]], [[Microhyla ornata|ornate narrow mouthed frog]], [[toad]], [[Hoplobatrachus tigerinus samarth|bullfrog]] , etc.) are found in the reserve as well.<ref name=mab /> There are four variety of monkeys including langurs, red face, red hips and normal Indian monkey.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=

<ref name=unesco>{{cite web|url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/asia-and-the-pacific/india/achanakmar-amarkantak|title=Achanakmar-Amarkantak|work=United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization|date=August 2012|accessdate=12 February 2014}}</ref>

<ref name=BRIS>{{cite journal |last=Tiple
|first=Ashish
|editor-last1=Joshi
|editor-first1=K.C.
|editor-last2=Negi
|editor-first2=M.S.
|editor-last3=Tiple
|editor-first3=Ashish
|date=October 2010
|title=Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve
|journal=Biosphere Reserve Information Series (BRIS)
|volume=2
|location=Jabalpur
|publisher=Tropical Forest Research Institute|accessdate=15 June 2013
|url=https://www.academia.edu/1491836/Achanakmar-Amarkantak_Biosphere_Reserve._Biosphere_Reserves_Information_Series_BRIS_._Published_by_Tropical_Forest_Research_Institute_Jabalpur._2_1-2_
}}</ref>

<ref name=mab>{{cite web|title=20 new Biosphere Reserves added to UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme|url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/20_new_biosphere_reserves_added_to_unescos_man_and_the_biosphere_mab_programme/ |date=July 2012}}</ref>
}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:National biosphere reserves of India]]
[[Category:Bilaspur district, Chhattisgarh]]
[[Category:Protected areas with year of establishment missing]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Chhattisgarh]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:2005 establishments in Chhattisgarh]]
[[Category:2005 establishments in Madhya Pradesh]]

Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve - Revision history

2401:4900:51D8:9826:205E:63D0:CC15:DC42 at 11:18, 30 May 2021