Status of Sacred Groves in India: A Review

Areas covering native plant and tree species protected on behalf of religious grounds are known as sacred groves. Apart from India, sacred groves occur in various countries including America, Australia, Africa, Asia and Europe. They are not merely patches of forests but are islands in desolated landscapes. Many valuable medicinal plants and wild relatives of cultivated species are residing in sacred groves which have got tremendous roles to play in species or tree improvement programmes. Ancient sacred groves should be treated as possessing “Incomparable Values” according to the National Environment Policy of India. This paper reviewed extensively, analyzed and presented the current status on these invaluable resource pockets in India.