Sacred groves are community-protected patches of natural vegetation preserved due to religious and cultural beliefs, representing one of India’s oldest traditions of conservation. Found across diverse ecological regions, these landscapes act as biodiversity refuges, support groundwater recharge, prevent soil erosion, and help regulate local microclimates. They also serve as ecological corridors and genetic reservoirs for rare and endemic species. However, sacred groves are increasingly threatened by declining cultural practices, land encroachment, infrastructure and renewable energy projects, and the lack of proper mapping and legal recognition. Strengthening community rights under the Forest Rights Act, recognising them as Community Reserves or OECMs, and integrating traditional knowledge into modern conservation frameworks can enhance their role in biodiversity protection and climate resilience.
Click to View MoreRecent amendments to the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 permit private leasing of forest land for commercial plantations without NPV fees to expand forest cover and cut wood imports. Critics warn monoculture plantations may create green deserts, harm open ecosystems, and undermine forest rights protections.
Click to View MoreThe amendment to the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam allows private commercial plantations on forest land, exempt from NPV and CA, to support Make in India and the paper industry. However, it risks weakening forest protection, promoting monocultures, and clashing with Forest Rights Act safeguards.
Click to View MoreThe full potential of Community Forest Rights under the FRA is stalled by departmental resistance, legislative dilution, and lack of community awareness, necessitating a mission-mode push with technology and coordinated governance to empower Gram Sabhas and correct historical injustices.
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