Sacred Groves: Ancient Forests Preserving Biodiversity

Long before the terms “biodiversity” and “conservation” entered scientific vocabulary, communities across India were already protecting patches of forest through faith, tradition, and a deep sense of reverence for nature. These community-protected forests – known as sacred groves – are among the oldest forms of habitat preservation in the world. Today, they remain critical to conserving rare species, maintaining ecological balance, and safeguarding traditional knowledge systems.

What are sacred groves? 🔗

Sacred groves are patches of natural vegetation – ranging from a few trees to forests spanning several hundred acres – that are communally protected by local communities due to their religious or spiritual significance. They are typically dedicated to local folk deities, tree spirits, or ancestral figures, and communities believe that any disturbance to these forests will invite misfortune, disease, or crop failure.

These groves function through a system of social fencing – unwritten rules, taboos, and customary laws passed down orally across generations. Activities like hunting, logging, plucking flowers, and even removing fallen leaves are strictly prohibited in many groves. In some sacred groves of Meghalaya, for instance, the Khasi and Jaintia tribes forbid any form of human interference, including the removal of dry foliage.

The concept is not unique to India – sacred groves exist in parts of Africa, Southeast Asia, and Europe – but India holds one of the richest traditions. Around 14,000 sacred groves have been officially documented across the country, though experts estimate the actual number could be between 100,000 and 150,000. These groves have historically been managed by native religious communities, joint Hindu families, or temple trusts, making them a powerful example of community-led conservation.

Role in biodiversity conservation 🔗

Sacred groves are far more than places of worship – they are functioning ecosystems that provide critical services for both wildlife and human communities. Their conservation value lies in the simple fact that centuries of non-interference have allowed them to retain near-pristine ecological conditions.

Habitat for rare and endangered species 🔗

Because sacred groves have remained relatively undisturbed for centuries, they often harbour plant and animal species that have disappeared from surrounding landscapes. Research has consistently shown that species density in some sacred groves exceeds that found in officially managed forest reserves, largely because of the absence of commercial exploitation. These groves serve as genetic reservoirs – preserving the original gene pool of native flora and fauna in regions where surrounding forests have been heavily degraded.

Studies have also found that many medicinal plants absent from regular forests are still found thriving in sacred groves. Rare, endangered, threatened, and endemic species tend to concentrate within these protected patches, making them essential for in-situ conservation of genetic diversity.

Water conservation and soil preservation 🔗

Many sacred groves are located near water sources – streams, springs, or ponds – and play a vital role in maintaining local hydrology. The undisturbed vegetation cover improves soil stability, prevents erosion, and enhances groundwater recharge. In Uttarakhand, community-based conservation of sacred groves has helped maintain water quality that meets WHO’s standards for potable water, according to studies cited by the IUCN.

The dense canopy of these forests also creates microclimates – regulating temperature and humidity in their immediate surroundings. In Kerala, kavus maintain cooler, more humid conditions even during dry months, supporting species that could not survive in the exposed agricultural landscapes outside the grove.

Ecological support systems 🔗

Sacred groves function as stepping stones for species dispersal across fragmented landscapes. In the Kodagu district of Karnataka, for example, there is roughly one sacred grove for every 300 hectares of land, creating a network of habitats that supports wildlife movement. The groves also maintain populations of pollinators and predators – the balanced predator-prey dynamics within these forests (such as snake-rat and owl-rat relationships) provide biological pest control that benefits surrounding agricultural areas.

Distribution of sacred groves in India 🔗

Sacred groves are spread across nearly every biogeographic region of India, though they are most concentrated in the Western Ghats, northeastern states, and central Indian highlands. Each region’s groves carry distinct local names, reflecting the deep cultural roots tied to these forests.

Kerala – Kavu 🔗

Kerala has roughly 1,500 sacred groves, locally known as Kavu or Sarpa Kavu (snake groves). These are predominantly found in the northern districts of Kannur and Kasaragod. Kerala’s kavus are deeply intertwined with serpent worship – many groves house Naga (serpent deity) idols and are sites for the centuries-old ritual dance form called Theyyam. The Iringole Kavu in Ernakulam district is one of the most well-known, with a temple dedicated to the Mother Goddess. These groves are home to diverse bird species, rare orchids, and woody lianas that form their distinctive ecological character.

Maharashtra – Devrai 🔗

Maharashtra’s sacred groves, called Devrai (meaning “forest of God”), are concentrated in the Western Ghats region. Around 2,820 sacred groves are preserved across districts like Ratnagiri, Raigarh, Kolhapur, and Sindhudurg. The Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary is surrounded by numerous devrais, where the tribal Mahadev Koli communities believe deities reside within certain groves. These devrais are some of the only remaining fragments of the original forest cover in the deforested hill ranges of the Western Ghats.

Meghalaya – Law Kyntang 🔗

In Meghalaya, sacred groves are known as Khlaw Kyntang or Law Kyntang among the Khasi people and Khloo Blai in the Jaintia Hills. These represent some of the least disturbed forest patches in India. The famous Mawphlang Sacred Grove, managed by the Khasi community, is one of the best-documented examples. At least 50 rare and endangered plant species of Meghalaya are found exclusively in these groves, and research has recorded 395 plant species across just three sacred groves in the state, of which 14% were endemic.

Other notable regions 🔗

Sacred groves are known by various names across other Indian states: Devara Kadu in Karnataka, Sarna or Jaherthan in Jharkhand, Oran in Rajasthan, Dev Van in Himachal Pradesh, Devbhoomi in Uttarakhand, and Umang Lai in Manipur. Manipur alone has over 365 Umang Lais, associated with the ancient religion of Sanamahism. Rajasthan’s orans, maintained largely by the Bishnoi community, function as grazing grounds and water sources even in arid conditions, while Karnataka’s Kodagu district has over 1,214 Devara Kadus covering more than 4,600 hectares.

Ecological and cultural significance 🔗

Natural biodiversity reservoirs 🔗

Sacred groves are often described as relic forests – the last remaining patches of climax vegetation in otherwise disturbed landscapes. They preserve the original ecological conditions of a region, including canopy structure, soil composition, and species assemblages that no longer exist in surrounding areas. In the Western Ghats, sacred groves have been found to support habitats and species that are not represented in the formal protected area network, making them an essential complement to national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

Large ancient trees – a hallmark of sacred groves – are particularly significant. These old-growth trees are rare in managed landscapes, yet they play an outsized role in maintaining both biodiversity (as nesting sites, microhabitats, and seed sources) and cultural values associated with the groves.

Conservation of traditional knowledge and medicinal plants 🔗

Sacred groves are living libraries of ethnobotanical knowledge. Local healers, known as vaids, have long relied on the medicinal plants found in these forests to treat various health conditions. These micro ecosystems are home to many rare and endangered species as well as medicinal plants, and ancestors – even without formal scientific training – understood the importance of preserving them. This traditional knowledge, passed through generations, represents a form of grassroots pharmaceutical science that modern medicine is only beginning to document and appreciate.

Plants used in Ayurvedic and traditional medicine, including species of high commercial and therapeutic value, are found preserved in groves where they have long vanished from nearby forests. The groves also serve as sources of non-timber forest products like honey, fruits, and fibres, which communities harvest sustainably.

Cultural heritage and community identity 🔗

Beyond ecology, sacred groves are deeply woven into the cultural fabric of the communities that protect them. They serve as sites for festivals, rituals, folk art, and community gatherings. In Kerala, the Theyyam ritual performances held in kavus are centuries-old art forms tied directly to grove deities. In Manipur, the Lai Haraoba festival honours Umang Lai deities and represents the entire cultural identity of the Meitei people. These cultural practices reinforce the social commitment to grove protection – when communities feel spiritually connected to a forest, they are far more likely to defend it.

Threats and the path forward 🔗

Despite their remarkable resilience, sacred groves face growing threats. Urbanisation, encroachment, conversion of groves into temple complexes, grazing pressure, and the erosion of traditional beliefs among younger generations are leading to the degradation or disappearance of groves across India. Many groves are declining due to deforestation, mining, and developmental activities, and the shift from nature worship to formal temple worship has, in some cases, resulted in tree clearing within grove boundaries.

The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002 introduced the category of “community reserves,” which can legally protect community-held lands including sacred groves. Conservation organisations are also working with local communities to revive grove traditions, document biodiversity, and create sustainable livelihood models linked to grove resources. The growing recognition of sacred groves as Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) under the Convention on Biological Diversity further strengthens the case for their protection at both national and international levels.

Sacred groves demonstrate a powerful idea: that conservation does not always require government-led protected areas. When communities feel a deep spiritual and cultural connection to their forests, conservation becomes a way of life – embedded in daily practice rather than imposed from above.

What do you think? Can the traditional knowledge systems behind sacred groves offer a viable model for modern conservation efforts? As younger generations move away from traditional practices, what strategies could help keep these ancient forests alive?

References

1. https://iucn.org/blog/202308/sacred-groves-secret-wizards-conservation
2. https://megbiodiversity.nic.in/sacred-groves
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_groves_of_India
4. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21513732.2013.835350
5. https://www.nieindia.org/Journal/index.php/ijees/article/view/3360
6. https://old.forest.kerala.gov.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75:sacred-groves&catid=67:flora-and-fauna&Itemid=216
7. https://ecoideaz.com/showcase/sacred-groves-of-india-where-forest-meets-faith/
8. https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/sacred-species-and-sites/sacred-groves-and-biodiversity-conservation-a-case-study-from-the-western-ghats-india/1BCC40A715C4416095A0F4D2AB90BB95
9. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/forests/when-thinking-of-forest-conservation-a-national-park-sanctuary-approach-should-make-room-for-the-vitality-of-sacred-groves
10. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/wildlife-biodiversity/preserving-indias-sacred-groves-can-help-country-achieve-its-conservation-climate-goals-experts