Question

Explain the importance of sacred groves.

Answer 1

Sacred groves:

1. Sacred groves or sacred woods are woodlots of trees and have special religious importance within a selected culture.
2. Sacred groves feature in various cultures throughout the planet. Hunting and logging are usually strictly prohibited within these patches.
3. Other varieties of forest usage like honey collection and deadwood collection are sometimes allowed on a sustainable basis.
4. NGOs work with local villagers to guard such groves.

Importance of sacred groves:

1. Sacred groves are large vegetative areas rich in biodiversity, protected by communities living around them, often harboring some religious and cultural importance.
2. They function as sites for several valuable crops and medicinal plants, which act as a gene pool.
3. It also helps in the wildlife conservation of vulnerable species.
4. Choi (Cassia fistula), Kurao (Erythrina sp.), Tairel (Toona ciliata), Nongleisang (Xylosma longifolia), Khongnang (Ficus sp.) etc. are some cultural trees grown naturally and conserved in most of the sacred groves.
5. Langtheri (Eupatorium birmaticum), Nongmangkha (Adhatoda vasica), Mayo Kpha (Terminalia arjuna), Lei Hou (Michelia sp.) etc are medicinal plants grown in these natural centers.
6. Trees during a sacred grove are cut just for cultural purposes and other resource extraction is strictly forbidden.
7. Examples: scrub forests within the Thar desert of Rajasthan maintained by the Bishnois, Mangar Bani, a natural forest of Delhi is protected by Gurjars.