Preserving sacred groves

Description

Preserving sacred groves involves protecting and managing patches of forest or natural vegetation traditionally conserved for religious or cultural reasons. This strategy safeguards biodiversity, prevents habitat loss, and maintains ecosystem services by enforcing community-based stewardship, legal recognition, and sustainable use practices. It remedies threats such as deforestation, encroachment, and cultural erosion, ensuring the continued ecological and spiritual benefits of these sites for local communities and future generations.

Implementation

Sacred groves are one of the most common types of cultural landscape.

Counter-claim

There is no guarantee that beliefs about sacred places will continue indefinitely into the future. Conservation plans based on beliefs in protective spirits and deities should be considered with caution.