Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve is located in the northern part of western Himalaya and comprises of parts of Chamoli district in Garhwal, Bageshwar and Pithoragarh districts of Kumaun in the Uttarakhand State. Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve falls under Himalayan Highlands(2a) zone of the biogeographic zonation of India. It has wide altitudinal range (1800-7817m). It covers 6740 sq km area with core zone (712 sq kms), buffer zone(5148 sq kms) and transition zone (546 sq kms).

Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve includes as core areas the Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks, which are one of the World Heritage sites. Nanda Devi National Park has remained more or less intact because of its inaccessibility. The Valley of Flowers National Park is renowned for its meadows of endemic alpine flowers and outstanding natural beauty. Together they encompass a unique transitionzone between the mountain ranges of the Zanskar and Great Himalaya. The unique topography, climate, soil and biogeographical location of the Biosphere Reserve gives rise to diverse habitats, communities and ecosystems, and a large number of ecologically and economically important species. Some 1,000-plant species including lichens, fungi, bryophytes and pteridophytes have been recorded. The percentage of native and endemic species is high compared to non-native species. Over 55% of the species are native to this Himalaya, over 10 are endemic and 225 arenear endemic. Among these plant resources, the inhabitants of the Pindari, Lata-Tolma-Malari, and the Bhyundar areas use 224 species for various purposes such as medicine, food, and animal fodder. Many endangered mammal species find refuge in the area such as the Snow Leopard, Himalayan Black Bear, Musk Deer and Bharal/ Blue Sheep, Himalayan Tahr and Himalayan Serow.