Why in News?

In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court (hearing applications dealing with the protection of sacred groves of Rajasthan) directed the Union government to develop a comprehensive policy for the management and preservation of sacred groves across India.

Sacred groves, small patches of forest traditionally protected for their religious and cultural significance, also play a vital role in conserving biodiversity.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• What are Sacred Groves?
• SC’s Directives for the Management and Preservation of Sacred Groves Across India
• Significance of the SC’s Directives and Future Course

What are Sacred Groves?

• Definition: Sacred groves are forest patches safeguarded by local communities due to their spiritual and cultural importance.
• Distribution: These groves are prominent in states such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, contributing significantly to local biodiversity.
• Legal framework:
  • The management of wildlife and its habitat is primarily the responsibility of the concerned State Government.
  • The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 empowers the State Government for declaration of any private or community land, as a community reserve, for protecting -
    • Fauna,
    • Flora and
    • Traditional or cultural conservation values and practices.

SC’s Directives for the Management and Preservation of Sacred Groves Across India:

• Cited a verse from the Bhagavad Gita: “Nature is the source of all material things: the maker, the means of making, and the things made. Spirit is the source of all consciousness which feels pleasure and feels pain.”
• Policy framework: The court emphasised the need for a national policy and instructed Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to:
  • Conduct a nationwide survey to identify and map sacred groves.
  • Clearly mark the boundaries of groves, allowing flexibility for future forest growth.
  • Issue strict guidelines to prevent reduction due to denudation or deforestation.
• Recognition under National Forest Policy:
  • The apex court highlighted the National Forest Policy of 1988, which supports community-led initiatives to protect forest patches.
  • The court encouraged formal recognition of sacred groves as community reserves under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Empowering traditional communities:
  • The court suggested recognising and empowering traditional custodians under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
  • These communities can regulate harmful activities, ensuring sustainable conservation.
• Rajasthan’s Piplantri village success story:
  • The court cited the example of Piplantri village in Rajasthan, where community efforts transformed barren land into thriving groves.
  • Initiatives such as planting 111 trees for every girl child have:
    • Created sustainable livelihoods.
    • Reduced female foeticide.
    • Increased income and educational opportunities.
    • Empowered women’s self-help groups.
• State-specific instructions:
  • The court directed the Rajasthan government to:
    • Conduct detailed on-ground and satellite mapping of sacred groves.
    • Classify sacred groves as forests based on their ecological and cultural value, regardless of size.
    • Provide legal protection and declare groves as community reserves.
  • Formation of a supervisory committee: A five-member committee, led by a retired Rajasthan High Court judge, will oversee the mapping and identification process.

Significance of the SC’s Directives and Future Course:

• Significance:
  • The Union has traditionally viewed wildlife and habitat management as State responsibilities.
  • The SC’s directive marks a shift by aligning sacred groves with the cultural and traditional rights of communities, urging the MoEF&CC to take the lead.
  • This judgment underscores the ecological, cultural, and societal importance of sacred groves, advocating for their preservation as a national priority.
• Future course: The SC has scheduled the case for January 10, 2025, to review compliance reports on the panel’s constitution and survey progress.