What are sacred groves?

• Sacred groves comprise patches of forests or natural vegetation – from a few trees to forests of several acres – that are usually dedicated to local folk deities.
• These spaces are protected by local communities because of their religious beliefs and traditional rituals that run through several generations.
• A strong concentration of these groves is found in Himachal Pradesh and Kerala.

Significance

• Conservation of Biodiversity: The sacred groves are important repositories of floral and faunal diversity that have been conserved by local communities in a sustainable manner. They are often the last refuge of endemic species in the geographical region.
• Recharge of aquifers: The groves are often associated with ponds, streams or springs, which help meet the water requirements of the local people. The vegetative cover also helps in recharging the aquifers.
• Soil conservation: The vegetation cover of the sacred groves improves the soil stability of the area and also prevents soil erosion. 
• Source of local medicine: The local tribal population rely upon some plants in the sacred groves to heal themselves. 
• Carbon sink: The groves act as an effective carbon sink and are also a self-sustainable ecosystem, which reinforce scientific reasons for conservation.

Threats

• Increasingly, the sacred groves are facing threats from the biotic pressure due to weakening of traditional taboos and belief systems and invasion of exotic weeds.
• Indiscriminate grazing in the last few decades, uncontrolled felling of trees for firewood and urbanization have also contributed to the dwindling of groves.