Context: The state government of Rajasthan has initiated the process for classifying the community-protected ‘Oran’ lands as forests in compliance with the Supreme Court’s direction. The sacred groves will subsequently be notified as community reserves under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
The SC recognised ‘Oran’ lands as forests under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, in a landmark judgment in 2024. SC has also directed the Central Government to create a comprehensive policy for the management of sacred groves across the country.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Sacred Groves.
What are Sacred Groves?
- UNESCO (1996) defined Sacred Groves as an area of natural vegetation preserved through local taboos and sanctions that entail spiritual and ecological values.
- They are areas of natural vegetation resembling small forests protected by local communities for their religious and cultural significance.
- These are important sites for worship and community gatherings. Logging and hunting are strictly prohibited in these territories.
- Sacred groves are found all over India - especially in states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
- There are around 14,000 sacred groves reported across India.
- However, experts believe that the total number of sacred groves could be as high as 100,000.
- They are known by different names in different parts of India like – Devban in Himachal, Devbhoomi in Uttarakhand, Gumpa forest in Arunanchal, Sarna in Jharkhand and Chattisgarh, Deorai/Devrai in Maharashtra, Kavu/Sarpa Kavu in Kerala, Devarakadu/ Devkad in Karnataka, Jahera/ Thakuramma in Odisha, etc.
Significance:
- It acts as a repository for various Ayurvedic medicines. It is a source of replenishable resources like fruits and honey.
- Sacred groves often contain plant and animal species that have become extinct in neighboring areas. They therefore harbor great genetic diversity.
- They have become biodiversity hotspots, as various species seek refuge in the areas due to progressive habitat destruction and hunting elsewhere.
- They are often associated with ponds and streams, and meet water requirements of local communities. They help in recharging aquifers as well.
- Prohibition of cutting and chopping of trees helps reduce soil erosion and prevents desertification as in Rajasthan.
- They act as lungs in urban landscapes, providing much needed vegetation cover.
Why is this directive significant?
- The Centre has usually maintained that the management of wildlife and its habitat is primarily the responsibility of the States. The Centre had noted that the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, empowered States for declaration of any private or community land, as a community reserve, for protecting fauna, flora and traditional or cultural conservation values and practices.
- The judgment aligned the preservation of sacred groves with the cultural and traditional rights of entire communities.
- The court has asked the Ministry to develop a plan for a nationwide survey of sacred groves. The court said the survey must identify the area and extent of the groves. It said the boundaries of the groves have to be clearly marked but left flexible to accommodate future growth of the forests.
** The court cited the case study of Piplantri village to highlight how a community-driven initiative came to effectively address social, ecological and environmental challenges in a cohesive manner.
Piplantri village Rajasthan
A village in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan, was once a victim to denuded land due to marble mining, exhausted foliage and gender inequality. From being a usual Indian village, Piplantri went on to gain international recognition for its unique model where the villagers plant 111 trees whenever a girl child is born. The girl’s parents and the villagers get together to raise a Fixed Deposit of ₹ 31,000 ($ 450) to support the girl child’s future endeavours.
The movement was spearheaded by the Padma Shri, Shyam Sundar Paliwal, who was devastated after he lost his 17 year old daughter to bouts of dehydration. He planted a tree in her memory and encouraged everyone in his village to do the same for their daughters. Soon the village was able to revive their land and even earn additional income through the forest produce. The village now has more than 350,000 trees, with various indigenous varieties, proving to be a boon to the Environment and Climate.