Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0
Author-Name: Priyanka Gupta
Author-Workplace-Name: Research Scholar, Department of Biological Science, Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya, Chitrakoot, Satna, M. P., India
Author-Name: Amita Arjariya
Author-Workplace-Name: Prof. & HOD Botany, SoS Botany and Research Centre, Maharaja Chhatrashal Bundelkhand Vishwavidyalaya, Chhatarpur, M. P., India
Author-Name: Sadhana Chaurasia
Author-Workplace-Name: Prof. of Environmental Science, Department of Science and Environment, Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya, Chitrakoot, Satna, M. P., India
Title: Guardians of the Grove: The Role of Tribal and Dalit Women in Biodiversity Conservation through Sacred Forests
Abstract: This study explores the ecological and cultural significance of sacred groves in Chhatarpur District, Madhya Pradesh, emphasizing the pivotal role of tribal and Dalit women in biodiversity conservation. Unlike urban temples that are architecturally ornamental and often disconnected from natural ecosystems, sacred groves are reserved forest patches sustained through indigenous spiritual practices and community-based stewardship. Symbolically marked by tridents, flags, and shrines, these groves serve as sanctuaries of untouched vegetation and medicinal flora. Fieldwork was conducted across ten tribal-dominated villages, combining qualitative interviews, focus group discussions, and direct botanical observations. The findings reveal that tribal and Dalit women are active managers of these ecosystems, guided by seasonal rituals, spiritual taboos, and sustainable harvesting techniques. Their intimate knowledge of sacred plants such as Peepal, Tulsi, Neem, and Ashoka underscores the integration of religious belief with traditional medicine and ecological resilience. The research identifies sacred groves as one of the oldest forms of community-led conservation rooted in cultural heritage. However, modern pressures such as urbanization and erosion of belief systems threaten their sustainability. The paper argues that recognizing and empowering these women through legal frameworks, education, and inclusive forest governance is crucial for both biodiversity preservation and cultural continuity. Through this lens, sacred groves emerge not just as biological hotspots but as living embodiments of spiritual ecology and grassroots environmentalism.
Keywords: Sacred Groves, Tribal and Dalit Women, Biodiversity Conservation, Spiritual Ecology, Community Led Stewardship
Journal: Inventum Biologicum: An International Journal of Biological Research
Pages: 1-5
Volume: 5
Issue: 4
Year: 2025
File-URL: https://journals.worldbiologica.com/ib/article/view/193
File-Format: text/html
File-URL: https://journals.worldbiologica.com/ib/article/view/193/361
File-Format: Application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:adg:ibijbr:v:5:y:2025:i:4:p:1-5