India’s Sacred Forests & Biodiversity

India’s Sacred Forests & Biodiversity

Biosphere Reserves

Biosphere Reserves are a special category of protected areas of land and/or coastal environment, wherein people are an integral component of the system.

• The concept of Biosphere Reserves was launched in 1975 as a part of UNESCO's Man and Biosphere Programme (MBP), dealing with the conservation of ecosystems and the genetic resources contained therein.

• To date, there are 738 Biosphere Reserves in 134 countries, of which 18 Biosphere Reserves are in India.

• A Biosphere Reserve may incorporate within its limits existing or proposed National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and other protected areas.

Functions of Biosphere Reserves

The main function of Biosphere Reserves is—

(a) Conservation:

• To ensure the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species, and genetic resources.

• It also encourages traditional resource use.

(b) Development:

• To promote economic development that is culturally, socially, and ecologically sustainable.

(c) Scientific research, monitoring, and education

• The aim is to provide support for research, monitoring, education, and information exchange related to local, national, and global issues of conservation and development.

Constituents of Biosphere Reserve

A Biosphere Reserve consists of a core, buffer, and transition zone.

Core or Natural Zone

• Represents an undisturbed or least disturbed area of a representative ecosystem.

Buffer Zone

• Surrounds the Core Zone and is meant for demonstration, research, and educational activities.

Transition Zone

• The outermost part of the biosphere reserve, an area of active cooperation between reserve management and local people, where activities like settlement, cropping, forestry, recreation, and other economic uses continue in harmony with conservation goals.

Biosphere Reserves in India

To date, there are 18 Biosphere Reserves in India, as given below in the table (in descending order of area)—

Sacred Forests and Sacred Lakes

Sacred Forests

• A traditional strategy for the protection of biodiversity has been in practice in India and some other Asian countries in the form of sacred forests.

• These are forest patches of varying dimensions protected by tribal communities due to the religious sanctity accorded to them.

• The sacred forests represent islands of pristine forest (most undisturbed forests without any human impact) and have been free from all disturbances, though these are frequently surrounded by highly degraded landscapes.

• In India, sacred forests are located in several parts, e.g., Khasi and Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya, Aravalli Hills of Rajasthan, Western Ghat regions of Maharashtra & Karnataka, Sarguja, Chanda & Bastar areas of Chhattisgarh, Kerala, etc.

• These sacred forests are serving as refugia for a number of rare, endangered, and endemic taxa.

Sacred Lakes

• Similarly, several water bodies (e.g., Khecheopalri Lake in Sikkim) have been declared sacred by the people, leading to the protection of aquatic flora and fauna.

Ex Situ (Off-Site) Conservation

In this conservation, threatened plants and animals are taken out of their natural habitat and placed in special settings where they can be protected with special care.

Types of Ex Situ Conservation

• This conservation includes Botanical Gardens, Zoos, Conservation Stands, and gene, pollen, seed, seedling tissue culture, and DNA banks.

Seed Gene Banks

• Seed gene banks are the easiest way to store germplasm of wild and cultivated plants at low temperatures in cold rooms.

• Preservation of genetic resources is carried out in field gene banks under normal growing conditions.

In Vitro Conservation and Cryopreservation

• In vitro conservation, especially by cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -196°C, is particularly useful for conserving vegetatively propagated crops like potato.

• Cryopreservation is the storage of material at ultra-low temperature, either by very rapid cooling (used for storing seeds), or by gradual cooling and simultaneous dehydration at low temperature (used for tissue culture).

• The material can be stored for a long period in compact, low-maintenance refrigeration units.

Role of Botanical Gardens, Arboreta, Zoos, and Aquaria

• Conservation of biological diversity in Botanical Gardens, Arboreta (botanical gardens where specific tree and shrub species are cultivated), Zoos, and Aquaria (containers/artificial ponds in which aquatic plants and animals are kept) is already in practice.

• Plants and animals conserved in Botanical Gardens, Arboreta, Zoos, and Aquaria can be used to restore degraded land, reintroduce species into the wild, and restock depleted populations.

Biodiversity Conservation (Global Efforts)

Biodiversity knows no political boundaries, and its conservation is therefore a collective responsibility of all nations.

Ramasar (Iran) Convention, 1971 (came into force in 1975)

• It is a convention on wetlands of international importance.

• It provides a framework for international co-operation for the conservation of wetland habitats which have been designated to the list of wetlands of International Importance.

• India became a signatory to this convention in 1982, and to date has designated 80 wetlands as Ramsar Sites.

World Heritage Convention (Paris), 1972 (came into force in 1975)

• World Heritage Convention is a short form of 'A Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage'.

• It aimed at protecting sites of outstanding value that their conservation is of concern to all people.

• This treaty was adopted in Paris in 1972. India is a member of this treaty.

Earth Summit (Rio de Janeiro), 1992

• The historic Convention on Biological Diversity (The Earth Summit) held in 1992 (came into force in 1993) at Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), called upon all nations to take appropriate measures for the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable utilisation of its benefits.

  • Agenda 21: It is a product of the Earth Summit (1992). Agenda 21 means the agenda for the 21st century. It is an action plan of the United Nations with regard to sustainable development.

International Day of Biodiversity

• In 2000, the United Nations proclaimed May 22 as the International Day of Biodiversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.

World Summit on Sustainable Development, 2002

• In a follow-up, the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa, 190 countries agreed to achieve a significant reduction in the current rate of biodiversity loss at global, regional, and local levels.

Biodiversity Conservation (National Efforts)

Importance of Indian Biodiversity

• The Indian region contributes significantly to global diversity. India is the homeland of many cultivated species and wild relatives of crop plants.

• India is the centre of diversity of animal species (zebu, mithun, chicken, water buffalo, camel), crop plants (rice, sugarcane, banana, tea, millet), fruit plants and vegetables (mango, jackfruit, cucurbits), edible dioscoreas, alocasia, colocasia; spices and condiments (cardamom, black pepper, ginger, turmeric), bamboos, brassicas, and tree cotton.

  • India also represents a secondary centre of domestication for some animals (horse, goat, sheep, cattle, yak, donkey) and plants (tobacco, potato, maize).

• The biodiversity management systems for conserving biodiversity in India are shown below-

In Situ Conservation

• The in situ (on-site) conservation of biodiversity is being carried out through Biosphere Reserves, National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and other protected areas by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (established in 1980, renamed in 1985, and in 2014 got its present name).

• The Joint Forest Management systems involve forest departments and the local community.

Ex Situ Conservation

• The ex situ (off-site) conservation is being carried out through Seed Banks, Botanical Gardens, Zoological Gardens, etc.

• The National Bureaus of Plant, Animal, and Fish Genetic Resources have programmes to collect and conserve germplasm.

• Similarly, Botanical and Zoological Gardens have large collections of plant and animal species.

• Besides governmental efforts, individuals and NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) are working in this field.

Community Registers and Local Innovations

• In India, a programme is underway to develop a system of community registers of local informal innovations related to genetic resources, as well as natural resources management in general.

Final Thoughts

The conservation of biodiversity is not only a scientific responsibility but also a cultural and ethical duty. Biosphere Reserves, sacred forests, and sacred lakes showcase how traditional knowledge and modern conservation practices can work together to protect ecosystems, species, and genetic resources. Through in situ methods like protected areas and ex situ strategies such as seed banks, botanical gardens, and zoos, we ensure that rare and endangered species have a chance to survive and thrive.

Global initiatives like the Ramsar Convention, World Heritage Convention, and the Earth Summit highlight the importance of international cooperation in addressing biodiversity loss. At the national level, India’s role as a center of biodiversity reinforces its responsibility to lead by example in conservation efforts.

By valuing both scientific innovation and community participation, and respecting the cultural heritage tied to natural landscapes, we can work towards a future where development and environmental protection go hand in hand. Protecting biodiversity today means securing the ecological balance and natural wealth for generations to come.