Key Terms & Concepts — UPSC Mains
Agasthyamalai BR
"A UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve in the southern Western Ghats spanning Tamil Nadu and Kerala, housing one tiger reserve and exceptional biodiversity"
The Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve is a protected biosphere reserve located in the southernmost tip of the Western Ghats, covering parts of Tamil Nadu (Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari districts) and Kerala (Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam districts). It covers approximately 3,500 sq km. The reserve was designated to the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) in 2016. It encompasses the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu) — one of the earliest tiger reserves in India (established 1988) — along with Shendurney, Peppara, and Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuaries in Kerala. The reserve is part of a globally recognised biodiversity hotspot (Western Ghats + Sri Lanka hotspot). It is home to over 2,000 plant species including 33 endemic genera, over 400 bird species, and key flagship mammals including tiger, elephant, leopard, lion-tailed macaque, and Nilgiri tahr. The Agasthya Hills (Agasthyakoodam peak at 1,868 m) lie within the reserve and are a major source of perennial rivers for both Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Agasthyamalai is a high-yield UPSC topic connecting GS1 (biodiversity hotspots, Western Ghats, peninsular rivers), GS2 (environmental governance, Supreme Court orders), and GS3 (forest conservation, tribal rights). The Supreme Court has issued several orders directing state governments to remove encroachments from the biosphere reserve — making it relevant for questions on executive compliance with court directions and the conflict between development and conservation.
- 1 Located at southern tip of Western Ghats — spans Tamil Nadu and Kerala (~3,500 sq km)
- 2 Designated to UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) in 2016
- 3 Includes Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) — established 1988 in Tamil Nadu
- 4 Also includes Shendurney, Peppara, and Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuaries (Kerala)
- 5 Part of the Western Ghats + Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot
- 6 Over 2,000 plant species, 33 endemic genera; flagship species include tiger, elephant, lion-tailed macaque
- 7 Agasthyakoodam peak (1,868 m) is a sacred hill protected under the Kerala Forest Act
- 8 Source of rivers including Tamiraparani, Kallada, and Neyyar
- 9 Subject of Supreme Court encroachment orders — executive compliance has been a recurring issue
In June 2026, the Supreme Court issued a strong direction to Tamil Nadu and Kerala to submit compliance reports on removing encroachments from the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve — highlighting the continuing tension between tribal land use, agricultural encroachment, and biodiversity conservation in this globally significant landscape.
