Sacred Groves: Ancient Practices of Environmental Conservation in India

Long before governments established national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, local communities in India were already protecting forests – not with laws, but with faith. These community-protected forest patches, known as sacred groves, have served as some of the oldest and most effective forms of environmental conservation in the country. Rooted in religious traditions and cultural beliefs, sacred groves represent a powerful intersection of spirituality and ecology that has safeguarded biodiversity for centuries.

What are sacred groves? 🔗

Sacred groves are patches of natural vegetation – ranging from small clusters of trees to large forest tracts – that local communities have preserved due to their religious and cultural significance. They are typically dedicated to a local deity, ancestral spirit, or a spiritual being believed to reside within the grove. Hunting and logging are usually prohibited within these areas, while limited activities like honey collection and deadwood gathering are sometimes allowed on a sustainable basis.

According to Hughes and Chandran, sacred groves are defined as segments of landscape containing vegetation and life forms that are delimited and protected by human societies under the belief that keeping them in a relatively undisturbed state reflects an important relationship between humans and the divine or with nature. In simpler terms, they are patches of forest that communities have chosen to leave untouched – out of reverence, not regulation.

India is estimated to have between 100,000 and 150,000 sacred groves, with around 13,270 of them documented so far. These groves vary enormously in size – from less than 0.1 hectares to as large as 100 hectares – and are found across virtually every region of the country.

Sacred groves by different names across India 🔗

One of the fascinating aspects of sacred groves is the diversity of names they carry in different regions, reflecting the deep local roots of this tradition. They are known as Dev Van in Himachal Pradesh, Devbhoomi in Uttarakhand, Sarna in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, Devarakadu in Karnataka, Kavu in Kerala, Devrai in Maharashtra, Oran in Rajasthan, and Law Kyntang in Meghalaya , among many other names.

Sacred groves are found all over India, especially in states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Some of the most well-known are the kavus of Kerala, located in the Western Ghats and recognized for their enormous biodiversity, and the law kyntangs of Meghalaya, which are sacred groves associated with almost every village.

Cultural and environmental significance 🔗

Sacred groves are far more than just religious sites. They sit at the crossroads of culture and ecology, serving dual roles as spiritual sanctuaries and biodiversity reserves. Their continued existence is a testament to how traditional knowledge systems can achieve conservation outcomes that formal institutions often struggle to replicate.

Preserving biodiversity 🔗

In modern times, sacred groves have become biodiversity hotspots, as various species seek refuge in these areas due to progressive habitat destruction and hunting elsewhere. They often contain plant and animal species that have become extinct in neighbouring areas and therefore harbour great genetic diversity.

In one study in the Western Ghats, sacred groves contained 144 tree species, compared to just 91 species in the adjacent rural forest. In Meghalaya, sacred groves have been found to hold numerous endemic species that are absent from more heavily harvested forests. At least 50 rare and endangered plant species of Meghalaya are confined to these groves alone.

These micro-ecosystems are home to many rare and endangered species as well as medicinal plants, and are regarded as repositories of the original genetic pool. Local healers and traditional medicine practitioners have long relied on these groves for sourcing medicinal plants, which further incentivises communities to protect them.

Protecting water sources and soil 🔗

Sacred groves play a critical role in maintaining hydrological systems. They are often associated with ponds and streams and meet the water requirements of local communities, while also helping to recharge aquifers.

Studies show that water quality in Uttarakhand’s sacred groves meets the World Health Organization’s potable water standards – a striking indicator of how well these ecosystems are maintained. The dense vegetation cover within the groves also prevents soil erosion, stabilises slopes, and reduces the risk of flash floods in hilly terrains.

Acting as carbon sinks 🔗

With climate change posing an escalating global threat, sacred groves offer another vital benefit. In order to meet India’s climate commitment of achieving net zero by 2070, forest conservation is essential, and besides government-owned forests, there is a need to protect sacred groves as these can function as effective carbon sinks. Though individually small, their collective presence across the country makes a meaningful contribution to carbon sequestration.

Maintaining cultural heritage 🔗

The role of cultural and spiritual values is crucial to nature conservation. In Hinduism, nature worship is considered part of moral obligations, and many communities still practise tree worship to honour their deities. Sacred groves serve as living expressions of this worldview.

These sites are not just ecological reserves but also anchors of cultural identity. They are venues for festivals, communal gatherings, and ritual practices that have been passed down orally through generations. Local communities’ belief systems ensure that sacred groves are not harmed – it is forbidden to pluck flowers, uproot plants, harm animals, or remove any objects from the grove.

Threats facing sacred groves today 🔗

Despite their immense ecological and cultural value, sacred groves are under growing pressure from multiple directions.

Urbanisation and encroachment 🔗

Modernisation, industrialisation, increased encroachment, and misuse of forest resources increasingly threaten sacred groves across the country. Many groves situated near human settlements are disappearing faster, as land is cleared for construction, road and railway projects, or mining activities.

Erosion of traditional beliefs 🔗

New generations are less involved with their cultural roots and therefore have less interest in maintaining sacred groves. As younger people migrate to cities or adopt different lifestyles, the taboos and customs that once protected these forests weaken. In some areas, the conversion of nature-worship practices into formal temple worship – a process sometimes called ‘Sanskritisation’ – has led to trees being cleared to build temples within the groves themselves.

Invasive species and ecological degradation 🔗

Invasion of exotic weeds such as Eupatorium odoratum, Lantana camara, and Prosopis juliflora is a serious threat to some groves. As surrounding landscapes are degraded, these invasive plants can spread into the groves and alter their ecological composition.

Lack of legal protection 🔗

Because sacred groves are typically small and unprotected by formal laws, their heritage is often invisible in official conservation planning. Many groves exist outside forest department records, with ambiguous legal status, ownership, and conservation obligations. This makes them vulnerable to exploitation by parties who do not share the local community’s cultural reverence for the site.

The future of sacred groves 🔗

The good news is that sacred groves are increasingly gaining recognition in modern conservation frameworks – both in India and internationally.

Supreme Court’s landmark directive 🔗

In a significant development in December 2024, India’s Supreme Court directed that sacred groves like the orans of Rajasthan be recognised as forests, calling their conservation pivotal for in-situ biodiversity preservation. The court noted that they also help mitigate soil erosion, recharge aquifers, and serve as genetic repositories essential for ecological balance.

The court recommended the Union Environment Ministry conduct a nationwide survey of sacred groves and formulate a policy for their governance and management , aiming to promote sustainable conservation and empower the communities associated with their protection. This is a potentially transformative step, as it brings these informal conservation areas under a formal policy umbrella.

OECMs and global biodiversity targets 🔗

Sacred groves also align with the concept of Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) – a relatively new approach included in the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Government of India, with support from the UNDP, has developed a 14-category classification for OECMs that includes sacred groves, and the Ministry of Environment along with the National Biodiversity Authority is in the process of identifying, mapping, and documenting these sites across the country.

Since there is limited scope for expanding the network of protected areas, India is looking at areas outside this network – like sacred groves – to contribute to effective in-situ conservation and act as carbon sinks. This approach can help India progress towards the ambitious 30 by 30 global goal, which aims to protect 30% of the planet’s land and ocean by 2030.

Community-driven conservation and the role of NGOs 🔗

Local environmental organisations have been working closely with communities to conserve sacred groves, guiding them on how to generate income from their groves without overexploiting resources. For instance, communities can sustainably cultivate valuable tree products like baheda fruits, which are in high demand in medicinal and ayurvedic markets.

The IUCN Green List Standard, the global benchmark for effective protected and conserved areas, stipulates that sustainable outcomes and preservation of key cultural values must be achieved through cooperative engagement with the communities who uphold these values. Sacred groves fit this framework well.

Balancing modern policy with traditional governance 🔗

A key challenge going forward is ensuring that new legal protections do not inadvertently undermine community ownership. More meaningful dialogues need to happen between traditional and modern worldviews, where respect for the space, its oral stories, and cultural relevance are embraced into the policy framework. The ideal approach involves co-management models that combine the strengths of community-based governance with state-level legal backing.

Several pieces of Indian legislation already provide a framework for this. The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002 introduced the category of community reserves, which can include sacred groves. The Forest Rights Act, 2006 recognises the traditional rights of forest-dwelling communities to manage their forests. And the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 encourages community participation in biodiversity conservation.

Why sacred groves matter more than ever 🔗

In a country where large contiguous forests are increasingly fragmented by development, sacred groves serve as critical ecological stepping stones. In landscapes where large contiguous forests no longer remain, sacred groves may be the only remaining pockets of original vegetation – functioning as living museums of biodiversity. They preserve species, genetic lineages, and ecological interactions that would otherwise be lost.

Beyond their ecological role, they demonstrate something profound: that conservation does not always need to come from top-down policies. For thousands of years, local communities have shown that faith, culture, and a deep respect for nature can be powerful – and effective – drivers of environmental protection. As India pursues its climate and biodiversity goals, recognising and strengthening these ancient systems is not just desirable – it is essential.

What do you think? Can traditional community-based conservation models like sacred groves be effectively integrated into modern environmental policy without losing their cultural essence? And in your own region, are there examples of local traditions that have contributed to protecting the natural environment?

References

1. https://www.fao.org/4/XII/0509-A1.htm
2. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/wildlife-biodiversity/preserving-indias-sacred-groves-can-help-country-achieve-its-conservation-climate-goals-experts
3. https://hacfornatureandpeople.org/hac-member-progress/india-other-effective-area-based-conservation-measures-oecms/
4. https://iucn.org/blog/202308/sacred-groves-secret-wizards-conservation
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_groves_of_India