About
- Sacred Groves are patches of natural or near-natural vegetation, dedicated by local communities to their ancestral spirits or deities.
- They are known as sarnas in Jharkhand, devgudis in Chhattisgarh, and orans in Rajasthan.
- These groves vary in size, ranging from small clusters of trees to large areas spanning several acres. Some consist of a single sacred tree, like the sal tree in Jharkhand.
- They have been legally protected under ‘community reserves’ in the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002.
- Community Reserves are areas designated for conservation that involve direct participation from local communities in preserving natural resources and wildlife.
Extent and Distribution
- Sacred groves occupy an estimated 33,000 hectares, accounting for just 0.01% of India’s total land area.
- India has well over 13,000 documented sacred groves. The states particularly rich in abundance of groves are Kerala, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu.
- Maharashtra leads with nearly 3,000 documented sacred groves.
Biodiversity and Cultural Significance
- These are biodiverse areas that hold immense ecological value.
- Tribal communities have worshipped and maintained a deep connection with these groves.
- They historically symbolized environmental conservation, guided by spiritual codes codified in customary rules and governance systems.
Role in Climate Goals
- Sacred groves contribute to climate change mitigation by acting as natural carbon sinks.
- Their preservation is vital for achieving India’s net-zero target by 2070, alongside government-owned forests.
- Effective management of groves can maintain the human-nature bond and prevent community alienation caused by relocation.
Role of Sacred Groves in Biodiversity Conservation
A sacred grove in Raigad district, Maharashtra, conserved by the Waghoba Habitat Foundation, recently saw the return of a leopard, indicating ecological recovery.
Conservation Approach
- OECM:
- Sacred groves align with the “Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures” (OECM) approach under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
- Groves are managed by communities, integrating cultural values into biodiversity conservation.
- OECM ensures long-term conservation outcomes, preserving biodiversity and ecosystem functions.
- Government Initiatives:
- Gherabandi in Jharkhand was introduced in 2019 to protect sacred groves by building boundary walls.
- Renovation projects in Chhattisgarh were introduced to restore groves, which were undertaken during the previous government.
- Lack of community involvement in conservation schemes and prioritization of reserved forests often neglect sacred groves.
