Sacred Grove as A Tribal Ethics Of Plant Resource Management
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2023/v149i1/169890Keywords:
Biodiversity, Conservation, Sacred Grove, Bankura District.Abstract
Biodiversity conservation and sustainable use o f natural resources are the widely discussed topics of this century. Sacred groves are conserved tree groves/clusters often dedicated to certain local deities or spirits. This paper highlights the account of conserved plant diversity of 'Hausibaid Paharsini' sacred grove situated in Chhatna block of Bankura district. West Bengal. This study reveals a total number 274 Individuals under 31 species of angiosperms conserved in-situ including 18 medicinally and a few other socio-culturally important plants. Though most of the plant community is herbaceous (47%) but trees have a significant presence (31%). The Simpson's Index of diversity (1-D) Is calculated as 0.99 with a reciprocal index (1/D) of 77.11. The Shannon diversity index (H") is also worked out (2.98) with an equitability of 0.87. This results show that the grove has ample amount of plant diversity. However, there are many threats to the sacred grove as well and It is found that the Invasive alien species (IAS) and erosion of people's traditional ethics are the major ones. In view of this, the sacred groves should be protected as institution of traditional Indian culture and as adobe of local biodiversity.References
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