Geography: Comparison between National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Biosphere Reserves

Parameter

National Park

Wildlife Sanctuary

Biosphere Reserve

Protection type

Protection of wildlife

Reserved for species-oriented plant or animal

Ecosystem oriented-reserves all forms of life

Legislation

Wildlife Protection Act

Wildlife Protection Act

Internationally recognized within the framework of UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme and nominated by national governments.

Level of Protection

Greater degree of protection than sanctuaries

Lesser degree of protection

Greater Degree of Protection

Regulation of Human Activities

Activities like grazing, hunting, forestry or cultivation etc. are strictly prohibited.

Allowed to a limited extent in the wildlife sanctuaries

No interference except in buffer and transition zone

Boundaries

Clearly delineated by legislation

Not sacrosanct

Clearly delineated by legislation

Upgradation and Down gradation

Cannot be downgraded to a Wildlife Sanctuary

Can be upgraded to a Wildlife Sanctuary

National Parks and wildlife Sanctuaries may become a part of Biosphere Reserve

IUCN Status

Category II of the protected areas

Category IV of protected areas.

roughly corresponds to IUCN Category V of protected areas.