Ashish Kumar Soni1* and Dhiraj Kumar Yadav2
1Department of Farm Forestry, UTD, Sant Gahira Guru Vishwavidyalaya, Sarguja, Ambikapur-497001 (Chhattisgarh), India
2Department of Farm Forestry UTD Sant Gahira Guru Vishwavidyalaya, Sarguja, Ambikapur-497001 (Chhattisgarh), India
Email: ashishaceme@gmail.com
Received-24.02.2025, Revised-12.03.2025, Accepted-26.03.2025
Abstract: Sacred groves are tracts of virgin forest, harbouring rich biodiversity and traditionally protected by local communities. The inextricable link between culture, religious belief, and biodiversity conservation is evident in sacred groves. Many such groves are found in Chhattisgarh and are locally known as Sarna, Matagudi, Devgudi, and Gaondevi. The present study was carried out during the year 2020-21 at different locations in Ambikapur, Sarguja, where six distinct sacred sites were studied. A total of 16 different major species were recorded at the study sites. Among them, one endangered species, Tanacetum sanguineum, was recorded, which is listed as an endangered species in Chhattisgarh. The sacrificial system was also noted at two sites, and one sacred grove was found to be associated with temples. Sacred groves, with their rich ecosystems, provide significant biodiversity conservation benefits, supporting rare species and maintaining ecological balance. Moreover, these sites are an important aspect of local cultural heritage and tourism, attracting visitors who seek to experience both the natural beauty and spiritual significance of these areas. However, sacred groves are gradually being altered due to the ever-expanding human population, pollution and biomass extraction. Effective conservation is the need of the hour to maintain their functional values. The study suggests that local community participation not only boosts biodiversity conservation but also helps in preserving central role in their preservation. However, when sacred sites are relatively large, community participation alone is not enough for effective management. Support from external agencies, such as the Forest Department and/or environmental organizations are crucial for sustainable management of these valuable ecosystems.
Keywords: Sacred Groves, Ecosystem, Tribes, Biodiversity, Sarna, Environment
REFERENCES
Anthwal, A., Gupta, N., Sharma, A., Anthwal, S. and Kim, K. H. (2010). Conserving biodiversity through traditional beliefs in sacred groves in Uttarakhand Himalaya, India. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 54(11), 962-971.
Anthwal, A., Sharma, R. C. and Sharma, A. (2006). Sacred groves: traditional way of conserving plant diversity in Garhwal Himalaya, Uttaranchal. Marsland Company.
Arora, V. (2006). The forest of symbols embodied in the Tholung sacred landscape of North Sikkim, India. Conservation and Society, 4(1), 55.
Arunachalam, A., Arunachalam, K. M., Pandey, H. N. and Tripathi, R. S. (1998). Fine litterfall and nutrient dynamics during forest regrowth in the humid subtropics of northeastern India. Forest Ecology and Management, 110(1-3), 209-219.
Berkes, F. (2009). Community conserved areas: policy issues in historic and contemporary context. Conservation letters, 2(1), 20-25.
Bhagwat, S. A., and Rutte, C. (2006). Sacred groves: potential for biodiversity management. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 4(10), 519-524.
Bhagwat, S. A., Kushalappa, C. G., Williams, P. H. and Brown, N. D. (2005). A landscape approach to biodiversity conservation of sacred groves in the Western Ghats of India. Conservation Biology, 19(6), 1853-1862.
Bhagwat, S. A., Kushalappa, C. G., Williams, P. H. and Brown, N. D. (2005). The role of informal protected areas in maintaining biodiversity in the Western Ghats of India. Ecology and Society, 10(1).
Bhakat, R. K. and Pandit, P. K. (2003). Role of a sacred grove in conservation of medicinal plants. Indian Forester, 129(2), 224-232.
Bhakat, R. K. and Sen, U. K. (2012). Sacred grove as an institution of culture and conservation.
Bisht, S. and Ghildiyal, J. C. (2007). Sacred groves for biodiversity conservation in Uttarakhand Himalaya. Current Science, 92(6), 711-712.
Bhagwat and Rutte (2006). Sacred groves: potential for biodiversity management.
Boojh, R. and Ramakrishnan, P. S. (1983). Sacred groves and their role in environmental conservation. Strategies for environmental management, 6-8.
Boraiah, K. T., Vasudeva, R., Bhagwat, S. A. and Kushalappa, C. G. (2003). Do informally managed sacred groves have higher richness and regeneration of medicinal plants than state-managed reserve forests?
Chandrakanth, M. G., Gilless, J. K., Gowramma, V. and Nagaraja, M. G. (1990). Temple forests in India’s forest development. Agroforestry Systems, 11(3), 199-211.
Gadgil and Vartak (1976) sites of nature worship.
Hemrom, A. and Sharma, D. (2015). Study on sacred groves of Kanker district, Chhattisgarh, India. Inte. J. Multidisciplinary Research and Development, 2(3), 153- 160.
Hughes, J. D. and Chandran, M. S. (1998). Sacred groves around the earth: an overview. Conserving the sacred for biodiversity management, 69-86.
Huges and Chandran (1998) Segments of landscape containing trees.
IUCN (2008) Indigenous and community conserved.
Jagtap, S. D., Deokule, S. S. and Bhosle, S. V. (2008). Ethnobotanical uses of endemic and RET plants by Pawra tribe of Nandurbar district, Maharashtra.
Jeanrenaud, S. (2001). An international initiative for the protection of sacred natural sites and other places of indigenous and traditional peoples with importance for biodiversity conservation. Gland: World Wide Fund for Nature.
Jha, M., Vardhan, H., Chatterjee, S., Kumar, K. and Sastry, A. R. K. (1998). Status of Orans (Sacred groves) in Peepasar and Khejarli villages in Rajasthan. Conserving the Sacred for Biodiversity Management. UNESCO and Oxford-IBH Publishing, New Delhi, 263-275.
Kent, E. (2009). Sacred groves and local gods: Religion and environmentalism in South India. Worldviews: Global Religions, Culture, and Ecology, 13(1), 1-39.
Khan, M. L., Khumbongmayum, A. D. and Tripathi, R. S. (2008). The sacred groves and their significance in conserving biodiversity: an overview. International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 34(3), 277-291.
King, E. I. O., Viji, C. and Narasimhan, D. (1997). Sacred groves: traditional ecological heritage. International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 23(4), 463-470.
Konar, A. K. (2010). Tribal communities and their age-old sacred groves: A fair fieldwork in the Purulia District of West Bengal, India. Studies of Tribes and Tribals, 8(1), 1-12.
Koppers, W. (1940). Bhagwān, the supreme deity of the Bhils. Paulusdr.in Komm.
Kothari, A. (2006). Community conserved areas: towards ecological and livelihood security. Parks, 16(1), 3-13.
Mcleod and Palmer (2015). Why conservation need religion.
Saikia (2006). Ethnobotany of medicinal plants used by Assamese people for various skin ailments and cosmetics.
Malhotra, K.C., Gokhale, Y., Chatterjee, S. and Srivastava, S. (2007). Sacred Groves in India. New Delhi, India: Aryan Books International.