NEWS – Supreme Court directs the Union Government to frame a policy for managing sacred groves across India.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sacred groves are small forest patches traditionally protected by local communities for religious and cultural purposes.
• They contribute to biodiversity conservation and are primarily found in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.

KEY DIRECTIVES BY THE SUPREME COURT

• Formulate a Comprehensive Policy
  • Centre to develop a nationwide framework to manage and protect sacred groves.
  • Aligns with cultural and traditional rights of local communities.
• Nationwide Survey
  • Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to initiate a nationwide survey of sacred groves.
  • Objectives of the survey:
    • Identify the area and extent of sacred groves.
    • Clearly mark boundaries with flexibility for forest growth.
    • Protect groves against reduction or unauthorised land use.
  • Integration with Existing Policies
    • Leverage the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, which empowers States to declare community reserves.
    • Utilize principles of the National Forest Policy, 1988, encouraging community-driven conservation.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MOVE

• Ecological Importance
  • Sacred groves are rich in biodiversity, supporting flora, fauna, and traditional conservation practices.
  • Vital for local ecological balance and sustainability.
• Cultural Significance
  • Sacred groves hold religious and cultural value, safeguarded by communities for generations.
• Community-Centric Approach
  • Preservation involves local communities, aligning with their customary rights.
  • Encourages sustainable development and environmental stewardship.

CHALLENGES HIGHLIGHTED

• Vanishing Groves: Sacred groves are under threat due to land-use changes and urbanisation.
• Need for Protection: Limited legal and institutional mechanisms to safeguard these biodiversity hotspots.

CASE STUDY: PIPLANTRI VILLAGE, RAJASTHAN

• Community-driven initiative transformed barren land into lush green groves.
• Addressed social, ecological, and environmental challenges cohesively.
• Serves as a model for nationwide efforts to protect sacred groves.

PROPOSED MEASURES

1. Policy Implementation
   • Develop a framework for the protection and restoration of sacred groves.
   • Include guidelines for States to collaborate with communities.
2. Community Involvement
   • Empower local communities to manage sacred groves under legal frameworks like community reserves.
3. Monitoring and Flexibility
   • Conduct regular monitoring of sacred groves.
   • Allow room for natural growth and expansion of forest areas.

SACRED GROVES

• Definition: Sacred groves are forest patches protected by local communities for religious and cultural purposes.
• Ecological Role: They serve as biodiversity hotspots, preserving rare plant and animal species.
• Cultural Importance: Often dedicated to local deities, these groves are sites of spiritual reverence.
• Sustainability Practices: Activities like hunting and deforestation are prohibited; sustainable practices like honey collection are allowed.

Sacred Groves in India

• Regions: Common in the Western Ghats, Himalayas, Northeastern hill tracts, and Central India.
• Regional Names:
  • Sarna in Bihar
  • Dev Van in Himachal Pradesh
  • Devarakadu in Karnataka
  • Kavu or Sarpa Kavu in Kerala
  • Devrai or Deorai in Maharashtra
  • Law Kyntang or Asong Khosi in Meghalaya
  • Oran in Rajasthan