SHILLONG: On the tenth anniversary of inclusion of Nokrek Biosphere Reserve in the World Network of Biosphere Reserve, a workshop cum stakeholders’ consultation to formulate a plan for conservation of biodiversity in and around the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, West Garo Hills will be held on Monday at Daribokgre.
It was on May 26, 2009 that Nokrek Biosphere Reserve found a place in the World Network of Biosphere Reserve.
A biosphere reserve is an ecosystem with plants and animals of unusual scientific and natural interest.
Biosphere Reserves in India are notified by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to promote management, research and education in ecosystem conservation.
Besides Nokrek in Meghalaya, India presently has 17 biosphere reserves.
Nokrek Biosphere Reserve is the first Biosphere Reserve in the North East India.
In the North Eastern states except Sikkim, only Nokrek is part of the UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
Nonkrek was notified on September 1, 1988 by the Ministry of Environment and Forest and the total area is 820 sq km.
Nokrek extends to three districts West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills and South Garo Hills. The Nokrek National Park having 47.48 sq.km area constitutes core zone of the biosphere.
23 villages having an area of about 228 sq km constitute buffer zone of the biosphere and 145 villages having an area of about 544 sq km constitutes transition zone of the biosphere.
The ecological importance of Nokrek is that it is a rich gene pool of citrus species, especially the Citrus indica Tanaka and other related cultivars.
Apart from several other species of wild animals such as Himalayan Black Bear, Slow Loris, Gaur, Clouded Leopard and others, the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve is home to a large population of Hoolock gibbon, the only ape found in India.
It is catchment area of several streams, including the streams providing drinking water to Tura and other towns.
