Sacred Groves: India’s Community-Protected Forests

India could have around 100,000 to 150,000 sacred groves (sacred groves India), which are forest areas preserved for long periods of time by local communities, yet most still have no official records.
What Is Their Importance?
If we consider sparsely populated areas, sacred groves India are likely to be some of the last remaining exotic forests, as studies show they have many advantages over surrounding forests. In Bundelkhand, the unwritten laws that ensure their survival are what women, primarily Dalit and tribal women, are responsible for implementing.
What Is the Court Ruling?
It was declared by the Supreme Court in December 2024 that Rajasthan was to identify its orans and classify them as deemed forests instead. In addition, a national survey as well as an all-India policy were requested. Rajasthan put the number of its orans at about 5,000, while there are believed to be around 25,000 of them.
Is Legal Protection Sufficient?
Experts warn about the fact that legal status could make these organizations visible yet undermine their community authority. Moreover, sacred groves could assist India in reaching its conservation goal of 30 percent, as well as receive financial rewards for saving the forests.
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