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Environmentalists Jai Dhar Gupta and Vijay Dhasmana create India’s first biosphere in a tiger reserve
Rajaji Raghati Biosphere (RRB) is a 35-acre private forest initiative led by ecologist Vijay Dhasmana, who is known for restoring the Aravalli landscapes, and Jai Dhar Gupta
Situated within the Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand, the biosphere overlooks the rocky white Raghati riverbed, nestled in the Shivalik foothills
They are also working on a second biosphere atop the Western Ghats: above the Koyna River in the buffer zone of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve near Pune, Maharashtra
Rajaji National Park
Located in Haridwar (Uttarakhand), along the foothills of the Shivalik range
Named Rajaji National Park in the year 1983 after the famous freedom fighter C. Rajgopalachari; popularly known as “Rajaji”.
This area is the North Western Limit of habitat of Asian elephants.
Forest types include sal forests, riverine forests, broad–leaved mixed forests, scrubland and grassy.
It was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2015.
It is home to the Van Gujjars in the winters
Sahyadri Tiger Reserve
Sahyadri Tiger Reserve is a reserve in the state of Maharashtra, created by the Indian government in 2008
It is located in the Sahyadri Ranges of the Western Ghats in It was notified by amalgamating the Chandoli National Park and Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary.
It includes the area around the Koyna Dam, the Warna River, and many other small rivers and streams originating from the Western Ghats and flowing to the east.
The reserve is dedicated to the conservation of the Bengal tiger.
Koyna River
The Koyna River is a tributary of the Krishna River which originates in Mahabaleshwar, Satara district, Western Maharashtra.
Unlike most of the other rivers in Maharashtra which flow East-West direction, the Koyna River flows in North-South direction.
It is dammed by the Koyna Dam at Koynanagar forming the Shivsagar reservoir.
Koyna River is supported by four tributaries.
They are Kera, Wang, Morna and Mahind.
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