UNESCO puts Panna National Park of Madhya Pradesh under its list of Biosphere reserves

Along with Panna, FuvahmulahandAddu Atoll of Maldives was also included under the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
The UNESCO, under its Man and Biosphere programme has included Panna Biosphere region as one of its Biosphere Reserve.
Panna National park was included as biosphere reserve by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest.
The UNESCO has described the National Park as a critical tiger habitat and has also pointed out that it is home to World Heritage site of Khajuraho temples.
The Ken-Betwa river linking project will inundate around 400 hectares of the Panna National Park. It is also a Tiger Reserve. It is spread over 4,300 hectares. The river linking project involves the construction of Daudhan Dam across river Ken as well.
On the other hand, the project will benefit 14 lakh people providing them with drinking water and generating 78 MW of hydropower.
The criteria to become a Biosphere are: 1) Conservation of cultural diversity and biodiversity; 2) Economic development that is environmentally and socio-culturally sustainable; 3) Development through research, education, monitoring and training.