Workshop to protect sacred groves in Bangalore

KARWAR: Western Ghats Task Force will organise a workshop on protection of sacred groves (Devara Kadu) in the state on September 24 in the Aranya Bhavan auditorium in Bangalore, stated Western Ghats Task Force chairman Anant Hegde Ashisara.Sacred groves are small patches of forest protected by the villagers under traditional conservation practices since ages.The villagers protected them using traditional conservation practices.These are natural sanctuaries, where no one was permitted to cut the trees, kill animals and pollute the streams and ponds.However, the villagers are allowed to collect dead firewood and non-wood produces like mango, pepper and jack fruits.These groves, which are rich in bio-diversity and medicinal plants, favoured the existence of perennial streams and springs.The villagers believe that precious trees in the grove are the manifestation of God and they worship them.The sacred groves vary from half an acre to 300 acres in area.There are over 1,000 sacred groves in each of the districts where they are found.However, they remain neglected today.These groves are facing threat as ever greedy human beings trying to acquire more and more land and forest resources.As such they have shrunken and degraded today.While sacred groves come under reserve forest category in U-K district, they are treated as revenue land in other districts.Ashisara stated in the release that there is need to bring all sacred groves under reserve forest category.A survey of sacred groves should be carried out in the entire state. A policy should be evolved to allow the conservation of these groves by the Forest Department with participation of villagers. The village forest committees should be involved in it. The opinion of experts should be sought. The exclusive workshop will focus on all these issues, Ashisara stated.