Sacred Groves of AP
Sacred groves are patches of primeval forest that some rural communities protect as abodes of deities. Such “ecosystem people” draw their livelihoods from nearby resources and value nature for the ecological services it provides. Colonial resource extraction devastated the ancient network of sacred groves in India. Thousands of groves survived, however, and some are being newly established because of the ecological benefits that communities derive from them.
Empowering ecosystem people to protect their environment could be key to preserving such pristine spaces. India's Forest Rights Act of 2006, which grants communities rights to manage neighboring forests, is a significant step to this end.
