Context:
The Supreme Court of India has directed the Rajasthan and Union governments to identify, protect, and manage sacred groves across India, applauding Piplantri village in Rajasthan’s Rajsamand district.
Sacred Groves:
- UNESCO Definition: Areas of “natural” vegetation preserved through local taboos and sanctions with spiritual and ecological values (UNESCO, 1996).
- Sacred Groves in India:
- Over 1 million sacred forests and 100,000 to 150,000 sacred groves.
- Prominent in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand.
- Key Features:
- Represent natural or near-natural ecosystems.
- Serve as repositories for rare, endangered, and indigenous species of flora and fauna.
- Ecological Significance:
- Support traditional associations with wildlife and landscapes like streams.
- Contribute to biodiversity conservation.
- Cultural Significance:
- Revered for their connection to the divine.
- Symbolize a deep human-nature relationship rooted in cultural traditions.
- Community Involvement:
- Maintained by local communities through strict taboos and customary laws.
Legal Provisions:
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Enables declaration of sacred groves as community reserves, providing legal safeguards.
- Forest Rights Act, 2006: Recognizes rights of tribal and traditional forest-dwelling communities to protect and manage forest resources.
- National Forest Policy, 1988: Encourages community involvement in the preservation and sustainable management of forest ecosystems.
- Supreme Court Judgments: TN Godavarman case and recent Rajasthan sacred grove judgment reinforce legal safeguards.
Piplantri Model:
- Demonstrates how environmental protection, gender equality, and economic growth can transform communities.
- Initiative Origin: Sarpanch of Piplantri village initiated planting 111 trees for every girl child born.
- Inspired by the tragic death of her daughter due to environmental damage from excessive marble mining.
- Environmental Impact:
- Over 40 lakh trees planted, raising the water table by 800-900 feet.
- Climate cooled by 3-4°C.
- Social Impact:
- Significant reduction in female foeticide.
- Increased local income and educational opportunities.
- Flourishing of women’s self-help groups.
Some of the Sacred Groves in India:
| State | Sacred Grove | Vegetation | Significance | Associated Community/Tribe | Conservation Status |
| Rajasthan | Orans, Rundhs | Dry vegetation, native trees like Khejri, Ber | Water conservation and local deity worship | Local villagers and Bishnoi community | Designated as community reserves under Wildlife Protection Act |
| Himachal Pradesh | Dev-vans | Deodar, oak, and rhododendron forests | Linked to local gods; biodiversity hotspots | Himachali hill communities | Some protected as forest reserves |
| Uttarakhand | Bugyals | Alpine meadows, herbs, and medicinal plants | Sacred for rituals and grazing lands | Local hill communities like Garhwali | Declared as community forests under state laws |
| Meghalaya | Mawphlang | Evergreen subtropical forests | Rich in biodiversity, used in rituals and spiritual practices | Khasi tribe | Protected under community-based forest management |
| Kerala | Sarpa Kavu | Groves of coconut, jackfruit, and medicinal plants | Sacred to serpent worship; integral to traditional rituals | Nair and Ezhava communities | Managed by families or temple trusts |
| Tamil Nadu | Kovil Kavu | Temple forests of banyan, neem, and peepal trees | Biodiversity hubs tied to temple rituals | Local Tamil communities | Preserved through temple authorities |
| Karnataka | Devarakadu | Evergreen and semi-evergreen forests | Dedicated to local deities; significant for watershed and biodiversity | Kodava community in Coorg region | Declared as sacred forests under Forest Rights Act |
| Madhya Pradesh | Saranas/ Dev | Dry deciduous forests with Sal, Mahua | Worship of tribal deities and ancestors | Gond and Baiga tribes | Included under Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers Act |
| Bihar | Sarnas | Sal and other hardwood species | Sacred worship spaces for tribal deities | Santhal and Oraon tribes | Protected under tribal customary practices |
Source: TH
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
Once the Central Government notifies an area as a ‘Community Reserve’
1. the Chief Wildlife Warden of the State becomes the governing authority of such forest
2. hunting is not allowed in such area
3. people in such areas are allowed to collect non-timber forest produce
4. people of such areas are allowed traditional agricultural practices
How many of the above statements are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Answer: (c)
Explanation:
Statement 4 is not correct:
Community Reserve is meant for the conservation of wildlife and their habitat, and these activities may be restricted if they pose a threat to the conservation objectives.