Sacred groves in tribal area of western Himalaya as ethnobotanical gene pools

Sacred groves in tribal area of western Himalaya as ethnobotanical gene pools

Session: 
Traditional Resource Use, Sustainability, and Conservation
Date and Time: 
Friday, 6 May, 2011 - 16:20 to 16:40
Author(s): 
Thaplyal, Vandana - WWF-India, BCS, Gate No.2, New Shimla, 171009 Himachal Pradesh, India
Sharma, Sanjeev - WWF-India, BCS, Gate No.2, New Shimla, 171009 Himachal Pradesh, India
Bhatt, Ajay Ballabh - HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar, Uttarakhand, India
In many countries, the communities follow the practice of setting aside certain patches of natural vegetation as "sacred groves" dedicated to a deity or village God.  In India sacred groves are found all over the country. Plant species have been traditionally protected and  conserved in the sacred grove. The growing demand for land and natural resources, rapid urbanization and pressures of population growth today threaten the preservation of these sacred groves. Consistent efforts are required to conserve these patches of rich biological diversity. WWF India has initiated action to develop conservation programme including the preparation of an inventory of these groves and document their biodiversity with the objective to develop strategies for the rejuvenation and conservation of sacred groves. Ethnobotanical importance of 17 sacred groves have been studied with the documentation of 22 tree, 32 shrub,  and 42 herb species from Kinnaur district of  western Himalayan region of India.
 
Key words: Conservation, communities, pressure, society, traditional.