UPSC Prelims 2006 Q71: Environment & Ecology – Protected Areas & Wildlife
Where is Bundala Biosphere Reserve which has been recently added to the UNESCO’s Man
and Biosphere (MAB) network, located?
- (a) Russia
- (b) India
- (c) Sri Lanka
- (d) Bangladesh
Answer: (c) Sri Lanka
Explanation
Location of Bundala Biosphere Reserve
| Option | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Russia | No |
| India | No |
| Sri Lanka | Yes — Bundala, in the south-east, added to UNESCO's MAB network in 2005 |
| Bangladesh | No |
Bundala is a wetland national park on the south-eastern coast of Sri Lanka, declared a biosphere reserve under UNESCO's Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme.
Answer: (c) Sri Lanka.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Russia is not the location of Bundala.
- (b) Incorrect. India does not have a Bundala Biosphere Reserve.
- (c) CORRECT. Bundala is located in southern Sri Lanka.
- (d) Incorrect. Bangladesh is not the location of Bundala.
Key point
Bundala Biosphere Reserve, added to UNESCO's MAB network, is in southern Sri Lanka.
Remember
Bundala Biosphere Reserve: Sri Lanka.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a name ending in -la points to the Himalayan region.
- Confusing it with Sundarbans, shared by India and Bangladesh.
- Not recalling that Bundala is a wetland reserve for migratory birds.
Exam tip
Bundala = Sri Lanka's coastal wetland and Ramsar/MAB site.
Sources
- UNESCO — Man and the Biosphere Programme: Bundala Biosphere Reserve, Sri Lanka (designated 2005)
- Ramsar Sites Information Service — Bundala, Sri Lanka