Conservation of natural resources through ‘socio-

cultural-religious practices’: A glimpse of Sacred

Groves of Himachal Himalayas in India

Umesh K Narta1*, Prem P Chauhan2 and Sarvesh K Sood3

1Department of Botany, Government Post Graduate College, Seema (Rohru),

Himachal Pradesh -171207, India.

2 LBS Govt. Degree College, Saraswati Nagar, Himachal Pradesh, India.

3Departmant of Biosciences, H. P. University, Shimla-5, India.

Sacred groves: At a glance

• SG are the patches of forest demarcated by ancient societies & preserved

on religious grounds through taboos & sanctions

• They are the traditional conservation strategies reflecting the spiritual and

ecological ethos of the local communities & exemplify social interaction

with local ecosystem

• SGs are well distributed across the globe varying in size from few hectare to

several Km2

• Their importance in the changing environment is being realized of late

hence find place in IUCN’s 6 protected categories

• Have been instrumental in safeguarding the dwindling bioresources of a

locality throughout the world

Continued…………..

Sacred groves in India

• India has a long tradition of prudent use & wise conservation of useful

natural resources

• Estimated number of SGs lies between 100,000-150,000 in India & are

known by various name in different parts viz. Devahhatti (MH); Sarana (BH,

MP); Oran (RJ); Jaher (WB); Maw-bukhar (MG); Kovilkadugal (TN).

• Known as Deoban or devban in Himachal Himalayas, are forest patches

dedicated to a local deity (devta), an epicenter of socio-cultural religious &

political activities

• Serve as gene pool of important plants and animals , also plays a role in

water –shed management, soil & forest conservation.

The study area

Himachal Pradesh is one of the

North-western mountainous state of India

• Location 30o 22' – 33o 12' N &

75o 47' – 79o 04' E

• Altitude 350m- 6975 m

• Area 55,673 Sq. Km

• Population 6,077,248

• Literacy 77.17 %

• Occupation Agriculture & horticulture

Two hilly districts viz. Kinnaur and Shimla of Himachal Pradesh

were surveyed for the present study

Methodology

• Frequent field visits and survey of villages

• PRA (participatory rural appraisal) technique based on discussion

with key informants & observation, used for documenting information

on varied aspects of SGs.

• Major flora was collected & ethnobotanical information & importance

was discussed with Knowledgeable informants Viz. elderly people,

shepherds, local healers, temple committee members etc.

• Collected plant specimen were identified & confirmed in consultation

with herbaria & organisations like FRI, Dehradun, India., and floras

of the region (Flora Simlensis, Collet, 1900)

Results & discussion

• 13 sacred groves ( 6 Kinnaur + 7 Shimla district) were identified and

surveyed during the present study

• SGs ranged from small open forest patches (Bari, Chini) to large dense

multi-storeyed, forbidden forests (Deoban of Ransaar) spread over several

Km2

• Gymnosperms are the predominant trees in each SG except at Kothi

(Quercus sp.)

– Total plants collected = 166 (belonging to 54 families)

– Angiosperms = 159

– Gymnosperms = 7

– Trees = 21

– Shrubs = 46

– Herbs = 88

– Climbers = 11

Glimpses of the sacred groves of Himachal Pradesh

Institutional and ecological details of sacred groves

of Himachal Pradesh

SG. No. Name & location of sacred grove

Presiding deity Predominant vegetation Sanctions/taboos

1. Kamru (Kalpa) Badrinath ; Kalam Singh devta Pinus wallichiana Felling of trees

2. Batseri (Kalpa) Badrinarayan devta Cedrus deodara Felling of green trees

3. Kothi (Kalpa) Chandika devi Quercus glauca Lopping and axing of trees

4. Sungra (Nichar) Maheshur devta Cedrus deodara Felling of trees

5. Bari (Nichar) Nag devta Cedrus deodara Felling of trees

6. Chini (Kalpa) Vishnu ; Brahma dev Pinus gerardiana Harvesting of chilgoza fruit &

lopping and axing of trees

7. Deoban, Ransar valley

(Chauhara)

Kailash deo Abies pindrow, Picea smithiana,

Cedrus deodara, Pinus wallichiana

Entry into the sacred grove

8. Sholi (Rampur) Palthan devta Cedrus deodara, Pinus wallichiana Felling of trees

9. Chikhad (Theog) Chikhdeshwer devta Cedrus deodara, Pinus wallichiana Green felling

10. Shari (Theog) Maheshwari devi Picea smithiana , C. deodara,

Quercus sp., Pinus wallichiana

Green felling

11. Tiyali (Theog) Jaieshwari devi Cedrus deodara Green felling

12. Saranh (Chopal) Bijjat maharaj Cedrus deodara Felling of trees

13. Choordhar (Chopal) Shirgul devta Juniperus sp., Rhododendron

anthopogon, R. campanulatum

Green felling & grazing of

buffaloes

Predominant trees of the sacred groves of

Himachal Pradesh

Abies pindrow Cedrus deodara Picea smithiana

Continued ………

Continued……

Pinus roxburghii Pinus wallichiana Pinus gerardiana

Institution of the village deity: palanquins, people & culture

Continued……….

Institution of the village deity: temples

In-situ conservation of threatened plants of Himachal Pradesh in

the sacred groves

S. No Plant species Habit Red list

status

SG involved in conservation

1. Aconitum heterophyllum Herb CR(G) 7

2. Angelica glauca Herb EN(G) 4, 7, 8, 10, 12

3. Bergenia stracheyi Herb VU 7,13

4. Dioscorea deltoidea

Climber EN(G) 4, 5, 7, 8, 12

5. Fritillaria roylei Herb EN(G) 7, 13

6. Hypericum perforatum Herb VU 7, 8, 12

7. Polygonatum cirrhifolium Herb EN 7, 8, 12

8. Polygonatum verticillatum Herb VU 4, 7, 8, 12

9. Rhododendron anthopogon Shrub VU 13

10. Rhododendron campanulatum Shrub VU 13

11. Taxus wallichiana Tree EN 7, 8, 12

12. Zanthoxylum armatum Shrub EN 7, 8, 10, 12

Threatened plants of Himachal Pradesh being

conserved in the sacred groves

Continued……..

Different socio-economic, cultural and ecological services

rendered by sacred groves of Himachal Pradesh

S. No. Domain of

services Service (s) SGs involved

1. Religious Propitiation/worship of local deity 1-13

2. Cultural • Provide cultural space to the community in

terms of seat or site of the deity

• Celebration of fairs & festival 2,3,5,13

3. Economic •Provide biomass i.e. fodder, fuel, timber and

medicinal plants , edible plants, mushrooms of

commercial & nutritional value

1-13, except SG No. 7

4. Ecological • Habitat to plants and animal 1-13

Maintenance and recharge of aquifer &

water-bodies

4, 7,9,10,12,13

Soil conservation & nutrient cycling 1-13

Good climate & rainfall 1-13

Water bodies & aquifer management

Conclusions

• The local community of Himachal Pradesh in India has a deep rooted faith in the

institution of devta (village deity).

• Sacred groves maintained by local community in the name of village deity beside

serving the social, religious and cultural purposes are also the repository of rare and

threatened plants and animals.

• Sacred groves play an important role in biodiversity conservation, soil conservation,

water-shed management and CO2 sequestration.

• Local communities, as custodian of this traditional conservation strategy should be

encouraged and rewarded on the lines of PES (payment for ecological services) or

Carbon credit schemes for providing clean air, water and safe shelter to flora and

fauna of the region.

• Such community driven conservation practices needs to protected , promoted,

revived , reinvented and encouraged for sustainable future

Acknowledgements

• Director, Higher Education Government of Himachal Pradesh, India

• Department of Biosciences & Biotechnology, Himachal Pradesh

University, Summer Hill, Shimla, India

• Principal Government Post Graduate College, Seema (Rohru)

• Colleagues at Government Post Graduate College, Seema (Rohru)

Thank you