Biodiversity and ecological assessments of Indian sacred groves

Ray, Rajasri and Chandran, MDS and Ramachandra, TV (2014) Biodiversity and ecological assessments of Indian sacred groves. In: JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH, 25 (1). pp. 21-28.

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Abstract

Sacred groves are patches of forests preserved for their spiritual and religious significance. The practice gained relevance with the spread of agriculture that caused large-scale deforestation affecting biodiversity and watersheds. Sacred groves may lose their prominence nowadays, but are still relevant in Indian rural landscapes inhabited by traditional communities. The recent rise of interest in this tradition encouraged scientific study that despite its pan-Indian distribution, focused on India's northeast, Western Ghats and east coast either for their global/regional importance or unique ecosystems. Most studies focused on flora, mainly angiosperms, and the faunal studies concentrated on vertebrates while lower life forms were grossly neglected. Studies on ecosystem functioning are few although observations are available. Most studies attributed watershed protection values to sacred groves but hardly highlighted hydrological process or water yield in comparison with other land use types. The grove studies require diversification from a stereotyped path and must move towards creating credible scientific foundations for conservation. Documentation should continue in unexplored areas but more work is needed on basic ecological functions and ecosystem dynamics to strengthen planning for scientifically sound sacred grove management.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH
Publisher:	NORTHEAST FORESTRY UNIV
Additional Information:	Copyright for this article belongs to the NORTHEAST FORESTRY UNIV, PEOPLES R CHINA
Keywords:	biodiversity; conservation; ecosystem service; endemics; sacred grove
Department/Centre:	Division of Biological Sciences > Centre for Ecological Sciences
Date Deposited:	06 Mar 2014 06:49
Last Modified:	06 Mar 2014 06:49
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/48490

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