Abstract

The Sacred grove concept is one of the strategies developed by many human societies to conserve biological resources using a traditional approach. Recognising the importance of sacred groves, both in terms of conservation of biodiversity and cultural diversity, and in view of the threats faced by the groves, the Government of India has launched a Scheme `Protection and Conservation of Sacred groves’ within its programme `Intensification of Forest Management’. As a part of this Central Government sponsored Scheme, the Department of Forests and Wildlife, Government of Kerala (KFD) initiated the `Protection and Conservation of Sacred Groves’ project in Kerala. This scheme is coordinated and monitored by the Biodiversity Cell (BDC) of the KFD and implemented through respective Assistant Conservator of Forests (Social Forestry) of each District. The Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACFs of Social Forestry) invited applications from the owners of sacred groves within their Districts after giving wide publicity through media. An expert committee constituted by the BDC scrutinised the applications and selected the sacred groves to be supported. Initially, twenty eight sacred groves belonging to Devaswoms and Trusts were selected for support. The two tasks namely inventory of these sacred groves for documenting flora and fauna and preparation of Management Plan for each sacred grove have been assigned to the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI). By conducting field visits and stakeholder meetings with local community and owners of the grove, KFRI documented the socio-cultural and ecological dimensions of sacred groves.

The study revealed that the total area of sacred groves ranged from 0.04 ha to 24.0 ha and in majority of the groves, area occupied by the vegetation was more than 76 per cent of total area of the grove. While most of the sacred groves were surrounded by the crop lands, some were bordered by highly degraded forest lands and barren lands. Many sacred groves held water resources in the form of ponds, streams or wells. These water bodies, in many sacred gloves played important ecological roles by providing water for organisms living in and around the groves. Mainly four major forest types, namely evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous and mangrove forests were seen among twenty-eight sacred groves and the forest patches showed different degrees of degradation. A total of 670 angiosperm species, 154 butterfly species and 122 bird species were recorded from these sacred groves. Among them,

133 angiosperm species, 5 butterfly species and 8 bird species were endemic. Though the inventory of angiosperms, birds and butterflies in sacred groves conducted through this study provided rather preliminary results it indicated directions along which we must work further to document and organise comprehensive programme of maintaining biodiversity. In this document, the need of a Sacred Grove Biodiversity Network (SGBN) of Kerala State as a broad programme of biodiversity monitoring is also projected.

The present study also highlighted the role of sacred groves in the religious and socio- cultural life the local people. Majority of the sacred groves are associated with female deities and devotees dedicated offerings, generally agricultural products, for the fulfilment of their wish. Festivals and performing arts related to different sacred groves were documented. Even though some restrictions existed, women participate din the traditional activities, conservation and day-to-day management of many sacred groves.

During the participatory appraisal meetings, the participants highlighted the fact that many sacred groves are now threatened. Among twelve major threats faced by sacred groves, dumpage of solid waste materials, trespassing, illegal collection and removal of small fallen timbers and other forest products were prominent. Altogether 26 management strategies were recognized for the conservation and protection of these sacred groves. Even though the social barrier is more appropriate, the study revealed that in the present day socio-cultural context, physical barriers such as fencing and compound wall are needed to protect sacred groves till the attitude of stakeholders towards sacred groves becomes positive. The participatory approach adopted in this project helped to prepare the budget estimates for grove-specific management activities. The KFRI prepared the Management Plan for each of the twenty eight sacred groves and submitted to the BDC. Among others, each Management Plan provides details of cultural and ecological significance of the grove, the contribution by the owner and the local community in the conservation efforts, institutional mechanism whereby all stakeholders lend their support to the conservation of the sacred grove, budget estimates for management activities and mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating the management activities. After scrutiny by the Expert Committee, the Management Plans have been forwarded by the BDC to the Government of India for financial support.