Cold Desert Becomes Global Star
India’s Spiti Valley has gained global recognition after being designated as a UNESCO Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve in September 2025. The area is celebrated for its unique biodiversity, rugged landscape, and the traditional practices of its local communities who live in harmony with the extreme conditions.
The Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve, located in Himachal Pradesh, is the first of its kind in India to be recognized by UNESCO. This milestone highlights the ecological and cultural significance of India’s high-altitude cold deserts on the world stage.
Key features of the new biosphere reserve
- Location and altitude: The reserve spans 7,770 sq km across the Spiti Wildlife Division and parts of the Lahaul Forest Division, with altitudes ranging from 3,300 to 6,600 meters.
- Biodiversity: The harsh climate supports a variety of flora and fauna, including the snow leopard, Tibetan wolf, red fox, Himalayan ibex, and more than 800 blue sheep, which provide a strong prey base. The region also hosts 655 types of herbs and 47 medicinal plants central to the traditional Sowa Rigpa healing system.
- Conservation: The designation aims to promote responsible eco-tourism, support local livelihoods, and strengthen India’s efforts to build climate resilience in fragile Himalayan ecosystems.
- Community: The reserve is home to roughly 12,000 people who have maintained traditional agro-pastoral practices for generations, including farming, yak and goat herding, and practicing Tibetan herbal medicine.
The significance of the UNESCO recognition
The UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme officially recognized the Spiti Valley during its 37th International Coordinating Council meeting in Hangzhou, China. For India, this marks the 13th site to join the MAB network. Unlike other reserves that include tropical forests or mangroves, this is India’s first high-altitude cold desert entry.
This recognition is not just honorary; it provides opportunities for international research collaboration and conservation funding. It also offers a model for balancing environmental preservation with the livelihoods of local communities who thrive in this extreme environment.
A related challenge in Ladakh
Meanwhile, a separate region, the Ladakh cold desert, is currently facing different challenges. In late September 2025, violent protests erupted in Leh over demands for statehood and constitutional protections. These protests led to a curfew and internet shutdowns, which severely disrupted tourism, stranded visitors, and forced markets to close, impacting local livelihoods.