Sacred Groves : Supreme Court Direction
The Supreme Court of India has directed the Union Government to formulate a comprehensive policy for managing sacred groves across the country.
- Sacred Groves are small patches of forests or natural vegetation that are protected by local communities due to their religious and cultural significance.
- These areas are often dedicated to local deities and serve as both ecological sanctuaries and sites of spiritual reverence.
- They act as repositories of biodiversity, sheltering rare plant and animal species.
- Hunting and deforestation are usually prohibited, while sustainable activities such as honey collection or gathering deadwood are permitted.
- Sacred groves are scattered across India but are particularly found in regions like:
- The Western Ghats
- The Himalayas
- The northeastern hill tracts
- Central India
