Sacred groves on the decline, reveals study

There has been a 20 per cent reduction in tree and herbal plant density over the last two decades in some of the sacred groves in Villupuram and Cuddalore districts. There are about 200 of them, and a study by S. Karthik, a research scholar of Presidency College, Chennai, of 12 of them has brought this alarming fact to light. Dr S Ravikumar, assistant professor of plant biology and plant biotechnology, Presidency College, who guided Karthik, said that they found this decline when comparing their findings to other studies and information available in literatures of the past about sacred groves. He noted that several plants and trees in the sacred groves were rich in medicinal and nutritional value and still used by traditional medical practitioners in the treatment of various ailments. 

He regretted that such a decline had occurred, which was perhaps due to a lack of awareness among people about trees in sacred groves and depletion of water resources. “Steps need to be taken to maintain water resources, besides regenerating forests and sacred groves. We have to collect seeds from sacred groves, to regenerate using modern technology like tissue culture and creating a seed and gene bank in all districts,” he added. Karthik said that sacred groves were usually dense with trees and herbs. “In ancient times, temples were constructed to preserve these sacred groves and enhance the health of people in the area,” he added.

Sacred groves are mini-biospheres with religious significance and excellent indicators of local biodiversity health, especially because local communities participate to protect them. 

Normally left undisturbed, they could be forest patches or fallow lands near villages, and host folk deities. One of the most important traditional uses of sacred groves was that it acted as a repository for various ayurvedic medicines. Other uses involved a source of replenishable resources like fruits and honey. 

A large number of distinct local art forms and folk traditions are associated with the deities of sacred groves, and are an important cultural aspect closely associated with sacred traditions.