Context: The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to develop a policy for managing sacred groves across India, recognizing their cultural and ecological importance.

• These forests, traditionally protected by local communities, contribute significantly to biodiversity conservation.

Significance of the Move

• The court’s recommendation is important, as it acknowledges the cultural and traditional rights of communities while also recognizing the biodiversity conservation value of sacred groves.

• Sacred groves are found in regions like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.

Centre’s Role in Preservation

• The court aligned the preservation of sacred groves with community rights, asking the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to lead efforts in protecting them.

• The Ministry is tasked with conducting a nationwide survey to identify the area and boundaries of sacred groves, ensuring their protection from unauthorized land use.

Village Example

• The court cited the example of Piplantri village in Rajasthan, where community-driven efforts transformed barren land into lush green groves, addressing ecological and environmental challenges.

Ecological Value

• The judgment emphasized the immense ecological value of sacred groves, urging their identification and protection as community reserves.

Sacred Groves

• About: Sacred groves, known by various names worldwide, are revered natural sites protected for their ecological and cultural significance.

• India: Devrai (Maharashtra)Koil Kadu (Tamil Nadu)Sarna (Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal)Umang Lai (Manipur)Kothi (Himachal Pradesh)Kavu (Kerala).

• World: Church forests (Ethiopia)Kaya forests (Kenya)Fengshui woodlands (China)Nemeton (Celtic) Importance of Sacred Groves Biodiversity hotspots: Harbor rich flora and fauna, often including rare and endangered species.

• Gene pool: Serve as repositories for diverse genetic resources, crucial for research and conservation.

• Watershed protection: Help regulate water flow, prevent soil erosion, and recharge groundwater.

• Climate regulation: Contribute to carbon sequestration and local climate moderation.

• Cultural heritage: Deeply intertwined with local communities’ spiritual and cultural practices.

• Traditional knowledge: Preserve indigenous knowledge systems related to medicinal plants and sustainable resource management.

• Threats to Sacred Groves Deforestation: Encroachment for agriculture, urbanization, and infrastructure development.

• Over-exploitation: Unsustainable harvesting of resources like timber, fuelwood, and medicinal plants.

• Invasive species: Introduction of non-native species that can disrupt the ecological balance.

• Pollution: Contamination from nearby agricultural activities, industrial effluents, and waste disposal.

• Religious tourism: Unregulated tourism can lead to habitat degradation and commercialization.

• Erosion of traditional beliefs: Weakening of cultural practices that have protected these groves for generations.