The Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve (ABR) is a Biosphere Reserve in India, established in 2001, located in the southernmost end of the Western Ghats and spanning parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It was created as a mechanism to reconcile the conservation of its rich biodiversity with the sustainable use of natural resources. The ABR is a voluntary, co-operative conservation area that aims to protect the biological and cultural diversity of the region while promoting sustainable economic development.
The reserve operates on a zoning system, typically divided into a strictly protected Core Zone, a surrounding Buffer Zone for research and education, and an outermost Transition Zone where sustainable resource use is promoted. The ABR encompasses several existing protected areas, including the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve. It is a unique genetic reservoir for cultivated plants like cardamom, nutmeg, and pepper, and is home to the Kanikaran tribe, one of the oldest surviving ancient tribes.
The ABR is connected to the international Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, which was launched by UNESCO in 1971. A significant recent change occurred in 2016, when the ABR was added to the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. This inclusion recognized its global importance for conservation and sustainable development, placing it alongside other Indian reserves like the Nilgiri and Gulf of Mannar.