FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, June 11: The State forest department has forwarded a proposal to the State government for establishment of a ‘Transition Zone’ in the periphery of the buffer zones of the world famous Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve (KBR).

The KBR is one of the world highest ecosystems and spreads over an area of 2619.92 sq kms in the South, West and North districts of Sikkim. The KBR which includes Khangchendzonga National Park (KNP) and several buffer zones accounts for 36.92 percent of the total area of Sikkim which is 7096 sq kms.

The need for setting up the proposed ‘Transition Zone’ comes in order to strengthen Sikkim’s chances for inclusion of KBR in the world network of biosphere reserve of UNESCO.

It may be recalled that a proposal report for nomination of KBR for inclusion in the world network of biosphere reserve of UNSECO had been prepared jointly by the forest department and GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment. The approval of the State government was accorded during 2007 after which the proposal was submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Forest.

Subsequently the report was recommended to the UNESCO for the inclusion of KBR in the world heritage sites where the lack of a transition zone in the KBR was pointed out.