Safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystem services of sacred groves – experiences from northern Western Ghats

Figures & data

Figure 1. Map of the northern Western Ghats area.

Table 1. Overview of the ecosystem services provided by sacred groves (SG), including the size of each grove and the main threats to the groves in the Konkan region, northern Western Ghats, India, 2012 (focus region of AERF’s work)

Name of the SG	Size [ha]	Main services	Main threats
Songhar Waghav	52	Traditional water harvesting system providing water for the village of Waghav	Agriculture encroachment; resource extraction (water and fire-wood); cattle passage and related trampling
Chafavali	2.5	Medicinal resources from native species, such as Hydnocarpuspentandra, Strychnus nux-vomica or Salamalia malabarica, Terminalia belerica, Tetrameles nudiflora, Antiaris toxicaria, etc.	Exotic species plantations (Acacia auriculiformis); livestock grazing; spread of invasive species (e.g. Calycopteris floribanda, Mucuna pruriense and Carissa congesta)
Kudavale	84	Rich biodiversity of almost a pristine moist deciduous forest, representing natural ecological processes	Tourism; cattle passage; resource extraction (wood); development encroachment
Hivale	10	Water provision to local people and cattle; habitat for Great hornbill; cultural services due to the existence of two temples that are used for different ceremonies	Livestock grazing (cattle); soil compaction; resource extraction (wood and leaves); ecological unawareness of local people
Kulye	23	Part of the village watershed; old growth trees; habitat of IUCN red list medicinal tree Saraca asok; nesting site of Great hornbill	Resource extraction (wood); development (roads); traditional practice of collective protection dwindling; livestock grazing (cattle)
Katavali	24	Medicinal trees like Antiaris toxicaria, nesting site of Great hornbill; only forest in the catchment of the village watershed; use of the temples for the ceremonies	Livestock grazing (cattle); temple renovation
Talawade	5	Nesting sites of Malabar pied Hornbills; food-providing species like Ficus benghalaensis; use of the temples for the ceremonies	Development encroachment; temple renovation; agriculture encroachment
Tamane	9	Old growth trees of Terminalia bellerica; medicinal trees like Strychnus nux-vomica; use of the temples for the ceremonies	Livestock grazing (cattle); temple renovation; resource extraction (wood)

Figure 2. Each sacred grove is devoted to a particular local deity.

Figure 3. Sacred grove forest (in the background) with a temple, where village meetings take place regularly.