Sacred groves

A sacred forest or grove comprises patches of natural vegetation – from a few trees to several acres – that are dedicated to local deities or tree spirits. These spaces are protected by local communities because of their religious beliefs and traditional rituals that run through several generations.

1. “Sacred groves” - keeping the faith in conservation

2. SACRED GROVES Sacred groves (SGs) are forest fragments of varying sizes, which are communally protected, and which usually have a significant religious connotation for the protecting community Other names: Church forests, Fetish forests and Sacred forests Ethiopia , Japan, China, Greece, Morocco , India, Northern Europe, and Ghana

3. Garden of Gethsemane, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem Jesus prayed and his disciples slept the night before his crucifixion

4. Osun- Osogbo Sacred Grove nigeria The Grove contains over 400 species of plants, some endemic, with more than 200 species of medicinal plants Founded 400 years ago National Tourism development Master Plan established with World Tourism Organization and United Nations Development Program

5. KASSINURME FORT AND SACRED GROVE, ESTONIA The Kassinurme ancient area was established 7000 years ago and the fort 2000 years ago. 

6. China’s fengshui forests Ma Yifu , a native of Mafang village, Shanghang county, Fujian, ancient Cryptomeria trees Mao bamboo , an economically important silvicultural product is propagated in the understory A ncestral hall in Gutian township, Shanghang county , Fujian , backed by a large F engshui forest

7. Japan’s Shinto shrines Most important building used for the safekeeping of sacred objects, and not for worship Mount Nantai , worshiped at Futarasan Shrine Mount Fuji is Japan's most famous  shintai .

8. 660 BC, this supreme shrine of Hitachi province (now Ibaraki prefecture) is one of the three principal shrines in the Kanto region 1500-hectare forest associated with Kashima Shrine was declared a "protected area" in 1953 Kashima Jingu boasts 800 kinds of trees such as cedar, oak, chinquapin, and fir. KASHIMA WILDLIFE PRESERVATION AREA, JAPAN

9. “sacred groves” in india

10. Forest cover- india

11. VILLAGES AND FORESTS 68.84 % of Indians (around 833.1 million people) live in  640,867 different villages . 0.63 million villages of which one third are in the vicinity of forests

12.  State Local term for Sacred Forests No . of documented Sacred Forests Maharashtra   Van, Deovan , Deorai , Devgudi 2820 Karnataka Devara Vana , Devara Kadu , Nagavan , Bhatappavana , Jatakappan bana , Ghowdibana     1476 Tamil Nadu   Swami Shola, Koil Kadu , Katttu Koil , Vanakkoil 1275 Kerala Kavu , Sarp Kavu     1096 Andhra Pradesh Pavithravana 677 West Bengal Gramthan , Santalburitan Shitalatan , Haritan Sabitritan , Jahera , Deo Tasara , Mawmund 562   Rajasthan   Vani, Malvan , Kenkri , Orans , Shamlat deh , Devabani , Jogmaya 560 Himachal Pradesh Kul Deveta      329  

13. Ecological Significance Conservation of Biodiversity Recharge of aquifers Soil conservation Carbon sequestration potential Distribution of Sacred Forests in India : Estimated 100,000 – 150,000 A Forest in Hiding near Mumbai

14. Rules of the “sacred groves” Hunting and logging strictly prohibited Honey  collection and deadwood collection sometimes allowed on a sustainable basis Mandatory that grove is always kept clean: To urinate or defecate within the grove not allowed Indigenous Forests Management Program, Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002    Kammadam Kavu , the largest sacred grove in Kerala

15. Sacred groves of tamilnadu Size from one to 500 acres Koil Kaadu , Swami Thopu , Swami Sholai or Ayyappan Kaavu (in Kanyakumari ). Aiyanar , Muniswaran   Karuppuswami , Sastha ,  Vedappar , Andavar and Amman .  Characteristic feature of sacred groves in Tamil Nadu: Offering of terracotta horses to Aiyanar , the villagse   kaaval kaaran  (watchman ). The horses are offered to him to go around the village in order to guard it.

16. Sacred groves of karnataka Jatakappa , Bhutappa and Choudamma , Mailara , Bhairava and Govardhan   Crab’s eye, Sage leaved Alangium , Neem, Pipal , Pithraj tree, Powder-puff, sarpagandha (Indian snakeroot   Rauvolfia serpentina ) and ekanayaka (a woody climber) Terracotta hounds in the groves of Kodagu Semecarpus kathlekanensis Declared Endangered by the IUCN

17. Sacred groves of kerala L ocally known as Ayyappan kaavu or Sasthan kaavu Sastha , Bhagavathi , Sarpa kaavu , Amman,  Kamaljai , Mariai , Bhavani and Bhagavathi are the deities “ Kaavu theendiya kulam vattum ” Mannarasala temple, Haripad , Kerala

18. Rituals in the groves Theyyam inside a sacred grove in Kasaragod Kaavu Perum Kaliyattam

19. Threats Disappearance of the traditional belief systems Rapid urbanization and developmental interventions such as roads, railways tracks, dams, commercial forestry ‘ Sanskritisation ’ - Transformation of primitive forms of nature worship into formal temple worship Exotic weeds- Invasive Species Pressures due to increasing livestock and fuelwood collection Sacred grove in Meghalaya

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