Sacred groves: a traditional way of conserving plant diversity in West Midnapore District, West Bengal, India

Main Article Content

Uday Kumar Sen
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1901-3069

Abstract

Sacred groves are forest patches conserved by the local people interwined with their socio-cultural and religious practices.  An extricable link between the past and present society in terms of religion, socio-culture, heritage and biodiversity exists in the sacred groves.  It is distributed globally where ethnic indigenous communities live.  Several animals and plants that are threatened in forests are still abundant and well conserved in such sacred groves.  The taboos, religious belief and sacredness play a significant role in promoting sustainable utilization and conservation.  In this regard, the study of a sacred grove in the district of West Midnapore in West Bengal highlighting the tradition may provide a powerful tool for ensuring biodiversity conservation through community participation. 

Article Details

Section
Communications
Author Biography

Uday Kumar Sen, Department of Botany and Forestry, Vidyasagar University, Rangamati, Midnapore, West Bengal 721102, India

Department of Botany and Forestry,

Researcher

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