- Location: Situated in the southernmost part of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India; covers nearly 85% of Great Nicobar Island, making it one of the most ecologically significant island landscapes in the Bay of Bengal and the eastern Indian Ocean region.
- Prehistoric Habitation: The island has been inhabited for thousands of years by indigenous communities, particularly the Shompen and Nicobarese tribes, who have maintained distinct cultural traditions, subsistence lifestyles, and deep ecological knowledge closely tied to the island’s forests and coastal ecosystems.
- Colonial Era: British presence was established in the 18th century as part of broader colonial expansion in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, though much of Great Nicobar remained remote and sparsely influenced due to its dense forests and challenging terrain.
- Biosphere Reserve Established: Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve was officially designated in 1989 by the Government of India to ensure long-term conservation of its fragile island ecosystems, endemic species, and unique biodiversity.
- National Parks Incorporated: The reserve includes two protected areas — Campbell Bay National Park located in the northern part of Great Nicobar Island and Galathea National Park situated in the southern interior; both were formally gazetted in 1992 to strengthen wildlife protection and habitat conservation.
- UNESCO Recognition: Designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2013 under the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, acknowledging its global ecological importance, high level of endemism, and role in sustainable conservation practices.
- Area: Covers a total area of approximately 885.1 km² (figures often expressed as 885,103.87 hectares); the zonation includes Core area: 536.23 km², Buffer zone: 348.77 km², and Transition areas comprising both terrestrial (100.7 km²) and marine components (53 km²), reflecting its combined land–sea ecological framework.
- Tribe: Home to the indigenous Shompen (a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group) and the Nicobarese community, whose livelihoods traditionally depend on forest resources, fishing, and small-scale agriculture adapted to island conditions.
- Plants: Dominated by dense tropical evergreen rainforests, coastal mangroves, littoral forests, and a variety of epiphytes, orchids, canes, and palms, many of which are endemic or specially adapted to humid island climates and saline coastal environments.
- Animals: Supports rare and endemic fauna such as the Nicobar Long-tailed Macaque, Crab-eating Macaque, Dugong, Nicobar Megapode, Saltwater Crocodile, Andaman Water Monitor, Giant Leatherback Sea Turtle, and numerous bird, reptile, amphibian, and marine species that thrive in its forest and coastal habitats.