HYDERABAD: This World Biodiversity Day, to be observed on Monday, is all set to be marked by the usual mundane programmes. However, it might be a good occasion for Telangana State Forest Department and Telangana State Biodiversity Board to chalk out a plan to conserve sacred groves. Such an initiative would be in keeping with this year’s theme, which is ‘Biodiversity and Sustainable Tourism’.
Mallur Gatta grove in danger?
One example is Mallur Gutta sacred grove, a hill spread over 1,500 hectares in Warangal. As per a recently published study it is home to around 470 species of plants including some which are listed in red list of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Around 200 hectares of the hill was accorded status of Medicinal Plants Conservation Area. Some medicinal plants found in Mallur Gutta have are not seen anywhere else in TS.
Dr Sateesh Suthari, Young Scientist, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Hyderabad (UoH), one of the authors of research paper on Mallur Gutta, says, “Sacred groves provide local communities with a range of essential produce, ranging from nutritional food to herbs for healing ailments. They are also regarded as abode of their ancestral deities or spirits. Many generations of people from local communities have been protecting the sacred groves.
However, some sacred groves which have become religious tourist spots are getting destroyed as outsiders who visit are reckless as they throw around plastic and harm the environment. Overexploitation of resources like fuelwood, timber and medicinal plants by outsiders is also happening which needs to be controlled.”
‘Policy is being formulated’
G Sailu, State Project Coordinator, Telangana State Biodiversity Board, says, “As per the Convention on Biological Diversity, there is a need for documenting community protocols being followed since years by local communities for protecting the sacred groves on which I am working. This will help in developing policy on future conservation efforts for sacred groves. The biodiversity board is also planning to identify and document more sacred groves in Telangana.”
‘Govt should take up extensive documentation’
There are 65 sacred groves documented in Telangana but conservationists say the real figure is much larger and government should take up extensive documentation. In Kerala around 1,500 sacred groves have been documented.
Protecting ancient trees
Sacred groves are patches of forest or just natural vegetation rich in floral and faunal biodiversity. They can range from a few trees to being spread over few acres, which have cultural and religious significance and also a source of livelihood for local communities.