Biological World

 

 

  Sacred groves: A sustainable conservation strategy for  Protection of Biodiversity in India The term "sacred grove" refers to communally protected forests that typically have a strong religious consequence for the protecting community. These are the remnants of the prehistoric forest that some rural people protect as the homes of the deity or god. Such "ecosystem loving people" rely on local resources for their daily needs and appreciate nature for the ecological services it offers. Generally speaking, the size of a sacred grove can be anywhere from a few square metres to several hectares. These preserved forest patches are typically located near human settlements. As a result, settlement has become an integral aspect of traditional rural communities. But there is only one rule, however, to be followed in this sacred forest, and, that is – “You cannot take anything out of this forest, else the deity gets upset”. It was thought that disturbing these forest section...