What Are Sacred Groves and How Can They Boost Conservation?

The Supreme Court on December 18 passed a judgment calling for the protection and preservation of sacred groves, acknowledging their ecological and cultural significance.

The court has directed the Central government to develop a plan for a nationwide survey of sacred groves, identifying their area, location and extent, and clearly mark their boundaries to ensure strict protection against any reduction in size due to agricultural activities, human habitation, deforestation or other causes.

The judgement was passed in a case relating to the vanishing groves of Rajasthan wherein the court recommended that sacred groves be granted protection under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, specifically through Section 36-C, allowing for the declaration of 'community reserves'.

 “Sacred groves of Rajasthan, which hold immense ecological value and are deeply revered in local cultures, urgently require formal recognition and protection to safeguard their preservation,” the court said in its judgment.

The court has also directed the Rajasthan government to identify traditional communities that have historically protected sacred groves and designate these areas as ‘Community Forest resource’.

Also Read: Forests As Carbon Sinks, A Vital Tool In Climate Mitigation

What Are Sacred Groves?

Sacred groves are clusters of trees which are protected and sustained by the local communities because of their cultural and spiritual significance. India has thousands of such sacred groves. These groves could be less than a hectare or cover a vast area of up to several hundred hectares.

They are protected for various reasons. Their conservation, for instance, could be connected to local beliefs, customs and traditions. From protecting a spring to serving as a sacred space for burying ancestors, these groves are known to serve various purposes, especially among the indigenous and local communities. In some areas, these patches of forests are the sole remaining natural forests outside of protected areas.

According to the Supreme Court judgment, there are over 100,000 sacred groves across the country. Among them are the Orans in Rajasthan, Devban in Himachal Pradesh, Devarakadu in Karnataka, Kavu in Kerala, Sarna in Madhya Pradesh, Devrai in Maharashtra, Law Kyntang/Law Lyngdoh in Meghalaya and Devan/Deobhumi in Uttarakhand.

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Protecting Local Biodiversity

The 25,000 Orans in Rajasthan cover an area of about 6,00,000 hectares. They serve as a reserve for grazing, forest products, water infiltration and medicinal plants, noted the judgement while acknowledging their crucial role in preserving the cultural and ecological balance in Rajasthan's arid and semi-arid regions.

These groves in Rajasthan are also linked to the religious practices of local communities. For instance, many believe that cutting or using axe in a sacred grove would anger the local deity. These religious and cultural practices ensure that the ecological balance of a region is preserved by rallying against deforestation and desertification.

Similarly, in Uttarakhand, at the foothills of Himalayas, there is a sacred grove called Dev Bhoomi or the Land of Gods. Local communities consider it as a part of their ethnic identity. It is forbidden to pluck flowers, uproot plants, harm animals or remove any religious objects. Their belief system ensures that the area is conserved and protected from any harm.

The "Living Root Bridges" of Meghalaya—a UNESCO recognised World Heritage Site—are built by the Khasi tribes, who carefully grow Ficus trees to form strong, living structures. These bridges provide essential pathways in one of the rainiest places on Earth and carry cultural and ecological importance.

Sacred groves across India represent ancient traditions that help preserve local biodiversity and maintain ecological balance by conserving forests and protecting natural resources.