Why in news
Recently, the State Medicinal Plant Board of Kerala has undertaken a project to protect these groves by activities like bio-fencing, preparing inventory of plant wealth, cleaning up water bodies and creating awareness about conservation.
What are sacred groves?
Forest Fragments of various sizes, which are community protected and usually have a significant religious connotation for that community.
Significance of sacred groves
Traditional uses
Medicinal use as it is a repository for plants with Ayurvedic properties.
Source of replenishable resources like fruits and honey
The groves are often associated with ponds and streams. They help in meeting the water requirement of communities and also in recharging aquifers.
Hunting and felling trees is a taboo. This vegetation cover helps in preventing soil erosion.
Modern uses
In modern times, they have become biodiversity hotspots due to progressive habitat destruction in neighbouring areas.
They act as a rich gene pool including rare, threatened and endangered species.
Sacred groves in urban landscapes act as ‘lungs’ to the city as well
Threats
Urbanization and encroachment
Over-exploitation of resources like overgrazing and excessive firewood collection
Religious practices; clearing them for construction of shrines and temples
Invasion by invasive species
Protection measures
The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002 had introduced a new protected area category called ‘community reserve’. Sacred Groves have been put under this.
Under this significant power is given to the local communities with respect to administration of these areas.
Many NGOs also work with local people for their protection.
Recently, the State Medicinal Plant Board of Kerala has undertaken a project to protect these groves by activities like bio-fencing, preparing inventory of plant wealth, cleaning up water bodies and creating awareness about conservation.
What are sacred groves?
Forest Fragments of various sizes, which are community protected and usually have a significant religious connotation for that community.
Significance of sacred groves
Traditional uses
Medicinal use as it is a repository for plants with Ayurvedic properties.
Source of replenishable resources like fruits and honey
The groves are often associated with ponds and streams. They help in meeting the water requirement of communities and also in recharging aquifers.
Hunting and felling trees is a taboo. This vegetation cover helps in preventing soil erosion.
Modern uses
In modern times, they have become biodiversity hotspots due to progressive habitat destruction in neighbouring areas.
They act as a rich gene pool including rare, threatened and endangered species.
Sacred groves in urban landscapes act as ‘lungs’ to the city as well
Threats
Urbanization and encroachment
Over-exploitation of resources like overgrazing and excessive firewood collection
Religious practices; clearing them for construction of shrines and temples
Invasion by invasive species
Protection measures
The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002 had introduced a new protected area category called ‘community reserve’. Sacred Groves have been put under this.
Under this significant power is given to the local communities with respect to administration of these areas.
Many NGOs also work with local people for their protection.
