Question 50

Among the given options, biosphere reserves are specifically established for the conservation of biodiversity along with the maintenance of traditional human life and the promotion of sustainable development. Biosphere reserves are designed with a unique zoning system:

• Core Zone: Strictly protected area for conservation.
• Buffer Zone: Surrounds the core, used for research, education, tourism, and limited human activities compatible with conservation.
• Transition Zone: The outermost part, where a greater range of human activities and sustainable resource use is permitted, involving local communities in conservation efforts and promoting their socio-economic development.

This multi-zoned approach explicitly integrates human populations, their cultural practices, and traditional livelihoods into the conservation framework, distinguishing them from national parks (which primarily focus on wildlife protection with very limited human intervention) and wildlife sanctuaries (also focused on species protection, with more flexible management but generally restricting human activities detrimental to wildlife). Botanical gardens are primarily ex-situ conservation sites for plants.