Humans are integral part of nature. Negative impact on nature; therefore also influence human as well as society. India, being a mega diversity country, also shows diversity in cultural traditions with 576 communities of tribal people apart from many other communities. Community people, especially the tribals, contribute in conservation of nature in India. History of sacred groves in India most likely dates back to hunter-gathering era, and their presence has been recorded since the early 1800s. The belief that trees are abode of gods, many communities set aside areas of forest, and established rules and customs to ensure their protection. These rules varied from locality to locality, as well as, from grove to grove. Such rules ensure the protection of trees, herbs, shrubs, and animals. Punishment for individuals for violating the rules was very strict. As a result, sacred groves became important reservoirs of biodiversity.
Sacred groves are tracts of virgin forests which vary in size between few hectares and few kilometers are protected by local people. These groves are important in conservation of genetic resources existing in the locality .In fact, traditional conservation practices are best reflected in natural forest pockets, the sacred groves. Such groves indicate the value of traditional ecological Knowledge. In the past, the sacred groves were believed to be present in almost every continent, although presently they have either disappeared or degraded, due to loss of traditional culture, values, and modernization and homogenization of cultural practices. In fact, as most of the sacred groves are situated near human locality, anthropogenic disturbances in these groves are increasing. Some groves still exist in about undisturbed condition, for example the sacred groves of north eastern region (NER) of India, where traditional tribal societies live.
Sacred groves are often the last refuge for threatened species along with medicinal plants. Many sacred groves contain ponds and streams. No comprehensive survey of sacred groves in India is available. At least 13,720 sacred groves are reported in the country, although estimates ranges up to 150,000 .Sacred groves maintain micro-climate, aquifers, nutrient cycling, prevent soil erosion, and shows a unique in-situ conservation process.
Sacred groves are often exceptionally rich in biodiversity, and embrace rare species. Many villages continue traditional practices of conserving sacred groves still now. Conservationists are now recognizing that traditional knowledge based sacred grove conservation as a significant process of biodiversity conservation. Sacred groves indicate a meaningful fusion of religion and ecology. Sacred groves are located in a diverse habitats ranging from rich forested landscape, such as Western Ghats and North-East, to the resource poor desert conditions in western and central India. Over 30 sacred groves exist in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. In the Karbi Anglong in Assam, over 100 sacred groves are reported. These two districts mostly inhabited by tribal exhibit biodiversity conservation practices through sacred groves.
Sometimes villagers perform annual rituals to appease the deity and wishes for their well-being. People also offer terracotta figures, in exchange for their wishes such as the birth of a child. Legal status and management of sacred groves vary among regions, and individual villages. Some groves are managed by separate caste groups within a community, some by a village as a whole. In some groves, resource exploitation is strictly prohibited, while in some, people collect fallen branches and leaves.
Karnataka harbors nearly 1,500 documented sacred groves. In Kerala, sacred groves at least 2,000 sacred groves have been recorded. The Bishnoi tribes manage sacred groves called orans in the arid and desert regions of Rajasthan. Bishnoi community believes that all living things have a right to live and share resources. Most of the groves in India are located in Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Chhatisgarh.
Erosion of the values that were vital for the conservation of sacred groves in India is depleting. Many groves are suffering from the transformation of belief of primitive nature worship.In the era of liberalization natural capitals are being forced to enter into market system that generally regards nature as a commodity. This compels communities to deviate from the customs which could maintain sacred groves. Market-oriented social systems do not hold reverence towards nature. Protection of nature’s biodiversity through sacred groves is an obligation of the society.
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Tags: communities community, conservation practices, india history, natural forest, sacred groves, traditional conservation, traditional ecological knowledge, tribal societies, undisturbed condition, virgin forests