Sacred forests of South Travancore of South India

Abstract

During the study period we inventoried 201 miniature sacred groves covering an area of 13.1 ha. Among these, 10 sacred forests are present in Agastheeswaram, 11 in Thovalai, 72 in Kalkulam, and 108 in Vilavancode taluk. The floristic richness of the sacred groves in South Travancore presently known as Kanyakumari district was analysed. A total of 329 species belonging to 251 genera of 100 families were enumerated from the miniature sacred forests of Kanyakumari district. Of these, 42 species were endemic, 40 very rare, 47 rare, and 16 endangered. Since there is minimal exploitation of these groves, they are considered a home to certain rare, endangered, and endemic plants and are rich in biodiversity. These sacred groves are closely related to the social and cultural life of a people and a number of cultural rites and religious rituals have perpetuated the status of a sacred grove, which has ensured the protection of the sacred grove vegetation in pristine condition

Keywords

• Medicinal plants,Plant diversity,Religious beliefs,Sacred grove,India

References

1. Akçin, T.A., Akçin, T.A., Kutbay, H.G. 2010. A study on flora of Çakmak Dam and its surroundings (Çarsamba, Samsun/Turkey). Biological diversity and Conservation, 3/1, 28-44.
2. Alao, J.S. 2009. Need for biodiversity conservation in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Biological Diversity and Conservation, 2/1, 14-20.
3. Cansaran, A., Bingol, M.U., Geven, G., Guney, K., Erdogan, N., Kaya, O.F. 2010. Contribution to the Flora of Sakarat Mountain (Amasya/Turkey). Biological diversity and Conservation, 3/1, 103-120.
4. Jeeva, S., Kingston, C., Kiruba, S., Kannan, D., Jasmine T Sawian, Venugopal, N. 2006. Sacred forests – treasure trove of medicinal plants: a case study from Trivandrum district of southern Western Ghats. In: National Seminar on Medicinal, Aromatic and Spices Plants: Perspective and Potential. Organized by Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, TCB College of Agriculture and Research Station, Bilaspur, Chattisgarh.
5. Jeeva, S., Kingston, C., Kiruba, S., Kannan, S., and Jasmine T Sawian, 2007. Medicinal plants in the sacred forests of Southern Western Ghats. In: National Conference on Recent Trends on Medicinal Plants Research (NCRTMPR – 2007). Organized by Centre for Advanced Studies in Botany, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai – 600 025.
6. King, E.D.I.O., Viji, C., Narasimhan, D. 1997. Sacred groves: traditional ecological heritage. International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 23: 463-470.
7. Ocakverd, H., Vural, M., Adiguzel, N. 2009. Vegetation of Kısır Dağı (Kars-Ardahan / Turkey). Biological Diversity and Conservation, 2/2, 1-37.
8. Prasad, M.N.V., Jeeva, S. 2009. Coal mining and its leachate are potential threats to Nepenthes khasiana Hook. f. (Nepenthaceae) that preys on insects - an endemic plant in North Eastern India. Biological Diversity and Conservation, 2/3, 29-33.

9. Sukumaran, S., Jeeva, S. 2008. A floristic study on miniature sacred forests at Agastheeshwaram, southern peninsular India. EurAsian Journal of Biosciences, 2/8: 66-72.
10. Sukumaran, S., Jeeva, S., Raj, A.D.S., Kannan, D. 2008. Floristic diversity, conservation status and economic value of miniature sacred groves in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, Southern Peninsular India. Turkish Journal of Botany, 32/2: 185-199.
11. Sukumaran, S., Jeeva, S., Raj, A.D.S., Laloo, R.C. 2007. Rediscovery of Tectaria zeilanica (Tectarioideae) – an endemic rare fern from the sacred grove of Vilavancode, Southern Western Ghats. Indian Journal of Forestry, 2007, 30/3, 331-332.
12. Tel, A.Z. 2009. Contributions to the flora of Nemrut Mountain (Adıyaman/Turkey). Biological Diversity and Conservation, 2/1, 36-60.
13. Yesilyurt, E.B., Kurt, L., Akaydin, G. 2008. A Study on Flora of Hacıkadın Valley (Ankara/Turkey). Biological Diversity and Conservation, 1/2, 25-52.
14. Yildirim, C., Kilinç, M. 2010. The Flora of the İnegöl Mountain Gümüşhacıköy /Amasya, Turkey). Biological Diversity and Conservation, 3/2, 49-67.
15. Yildiztugay, E., Kucukoduk, M. 2010. The flora of Kas Plateau and its surroundings (Anamur – Mersin/Turkey). Biological diversity and Conservation, 3/2, 170-184.