The conservation significance of sacred groves of Karnataka
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GOD’S OWN PHARMACIES GOD’S OWN PHARMACIES GOD’S OWN PHARMACIES GOD’S OWN PHARMACIES GOD’S OWN PHARMACIES GOD’S OWN PHARMACIES GOD’S OWN PHARMACIES GOD’S OWN PHARMACIES - THE SACRED GROVES OF THE SACRED GROVES OF THE SACRED GROVES OF THE SACRED GROVES OF THE SACRED GROVES OF THE SACRED GROVES OF THE SACRED GROVES OF THE SACRED GROVES OF UDUPI AND DAKSHINA KANNADA UDUPI AND DAKSHINA KANNADA UDUPI AND DAKSHINA KANNADA UDUPI AND DAKSHINA KANNADA UDUPI AND DAKSHINA KANNADA UDUPI AND DAKSHINA KANNADA UDUPI AND DAKSHINA KANNADA UDUPI AND DAKSHINA KANNADA AS THE TREASURE HOUSES OF AS THE TREASURE HOUSES OF AS THE TREASURE HOUSES OF AS THE TREASURE HOUSES OF AS THE TREASURE HOUSES OF AS THE TREASURE HOUSES OF AS THE TREASURE HOUSES OF AS THE TREASURE HOUSES OF MEDICINAL PLANTS MEDICINAL PLANTS MEDICINAL PLANTS MEDICINAL PLANTS MEDICINAL PLANTS MEDICINAL PLANTS MEDICINAL PLANTS MEDICINAL PLANTS DR. JAYAKARA BHANDARY M. DR. JAYAKARA BHANDARY M. PRESENTED IN: PRESENTED IN: NATIONAL SEMINAR ON NATIONAL SEMINAR ON NATIONAL SEMINAR ON NATIONAL SEMINAR ON NATIONAL SEMINAR ON NATIONAL SEMINAR ON NATIONAL SEMINAR ON NATIONAL SEMINAR ON MEDICINAL PLANTS MEDICINAL PLANTS MEDICINAL PLANTS MEDICINAL PLANTS MEDICINAL PLANTS MEDICINAL PLANTS MEDICINAL PLANTS MEDICINAL PLANTS- PROMOTION & PROTECTION PROMOTION & PROTECTION PROMOTION & PROTECTION PROMOTION & PROTECTION PROMOTION & PROTECTION PROMOTION & PROTECTION PROMOTION & PROTECTION PROMOTION & PROTECTION MM SCIENCE COLLEGE, SIRSI MM SCIENCE COLLEGE, SIRSI MM SCIENCE COLLEGE, SIRSI MM SCIENCE COLLEGE, SIRSI MM SCIENCE COLLEGE, SIRSI MM SCIENCE COLLEGE, SIRSI MM SCIENCE COLLEGE, SIRSI MM SCIENCE COLLEGE, SIRSI OCTOBER 4 & 5, 2008 OCTOBER 4 & 5, 2008 OCTOBER 4 & 5, 2008 OCTOBER 4 & 5, 2008 OCTOBER 4 & 5, 2008 OCTOBER 4 & 5, 2008 OCTOBER 4 & 5, 2008 OCTOBER 4 & 5, 2008
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GOD’S OWN PHARMACIESGOD’S OWN PHARMACIESGOD’S OWN PHARMACIESGOD’S OWN PHARMACIESGOD’S OWN PHARMACIESGOD’S OWN PHARMACIESGOD’S OWN PHARMACIESGOD’S OWN PHARMACIES --------THE SACRED GROVES OF THE SACRED GROVES OF THE SACRED GROVES OF THE SACRED GROVES OF THE SACRED GROVES OF THE SACRED GROVES OF THE SACRED GROVES OF THE SACRED GROVES OF
UDUPI AND DAKSHINA KANNADAUDUPI AND DAKSHINA KANNADAUDUPI AND DAKSHINA KANNADAUDUPI AND DAKSHINA KANNADAUDUPI AND DAKSHINA KANNADAUDUPI AND DAKSHINA KANNADAUDUPI AND DAKSHINA KANNADAUDUPI AND DAKSHINA KANNADAAS THE TREASURE HOUSES OF AS THE TREASURE HOUSES OF AS THE TREASURE HOUSES OF AS THE TREASURE HOUSES OF AS THE TREASURE HOUSES OF AS THE TREASURE HOUSES OF AS THE TREASURE HOUSES OF AS THE TREASURE HOUSES OF
ØPieces of vegetation existing at present as aconsequence of religious refugia offered tothem are called sacred groves.
ØTraditional, community-linked, oldest form offorest conservation.
ØOccur in Asia, Africa, Europe, America and
WHAT ARE SACRED GROVES ?
ØOccur in Asia, Africa, Europe, America andAustralia.
ØEarly manifestation of nature worship, playedimportant role in conservation of forest andconstituent biodiversity elements..
ØModels to be examined and explored totransform forest conservation a communityoriented process.
� In India, about 13,720 sacredgroves have been enumerated sofar from 19 states.
� From Karnataka, sacred groveshave been reported from thedistricts of Uttara Kannada,Shimoga, Kodagu, Udupi andDakshina Kannada.Dakshina Kannada.
� Locally called Devarakadu,Nagabana, Kan, Bhootha bana,Pavithra vana….
� Named after a variety of localdeities, managed by local agrariancommunities/families
State-wise distribution of Sacred Groves
Underestimation!
� Extensively studied in Kerala, Maharashtra, Himachala Pradesh……
� Last shelters of natural vegetation in many parts of India
� Repository of valuable biodiversity, especially endemic, rare and economically especially endemic, rare and economically valuable plants (medicinal).
� In Kerala, SG’s of 1.42 sq. km. Encompasses 722 angiosperm specieswhile 90 sq. km. Of Silent Valley has just 960 sps.
� A new species Kunstleria keralensisKunstleria keralensisKunstleria keralensisKunstleria keralensis(Fabaceae)reported only from sacred groves
� In Karnataka, some studies undertaken in Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Shimogga, Kodagu and Uttara Kannada.
� 1214 SG’s recorded from Kodagu – total extent is 2550.45 ha.
Kans of Uttara Kannada – rich in � Kans of Uttara Kannada – rich in endemics like Myristica spp. Garciniaspp. Natural strands of Vateria indicafound only in SG’s!
� A new tree species Semecarpuskathlekanensis (Anacardiaceae) reported from Kathlekan SG (Myristica swamp).
Semecarpus kathlekanensisA new species reported from the Kathlekan sacred grove (Myristica swamps) of Uttara Kannada, Karnataka swamps) of Uttara Kannada, Karnataka
Only about 250 plants all over the world – Tree species with smallest population!
� SG’s of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada –little scientific attention.
� Network of numerous small SG’s dedicated to Naga (serpent god) and local Bhoothas.
� Individually smaller in size, collectively of great conservation significance.
� Managed by agrarian families (Family groves)
Total villages No. villages surveyed
No. SG’s recorded
Dakshina Kannada- 374
90 2144Kannada- 374Udupi - 254 6 482
Total- 628 96 2626
Ref: Achar K. P. and Nayak V. S. , 2006. Dakshina Kannadada Devara kadugalu (in Kannada).
GLOBAL HOTSPOT OF SACRED GROVES!?
Traditional Deities of sacred groves
Preliminary studies indicate that…..
� Last shelters of natural vegetation in coastal regions.coastal regions.
� Rich in plant diversity.
� Rich in Endemic species, medicinal plants, RET species.
Repository of huge trees and liana……..
Gigantic wild mango tree Liana of stunning girth (Entada purseatha)
