The conservation significance of sacred groves of Karnataka

1. GOD’S OWN PHARMACIES -
THE SACRED GROVES OF
UDUPI AND DAKSHINA KANNADA
AS THE TREASURE HOUSES OF
MEDICINAL PLANTS
DR. JAYAKARA BHANDARY M.
PRESENTED IN:
NATIONAL SEMINAR ON
MEDICINAL PLANTS- PROMOTION & PROTECTION
PLANTS-
MM SCIENCE COLLEGE, SIRSI
OCTOBER 4 & 5, 2008

2. WHAT ARE SACRED GROVES ?
Pieces of vegetation existing at present as a
consequence of religious refugia offered to
them are called sacred groves.
Traditional, community-linked, oldest form of
forest conservation.
Occur in Asia, Africa, Europe, America and
Australia.
Early manifestation of nature worship, played
important role in conservation of forest and
constituent biodiversity elements..
Models to be examined and explored to
transform forest conservation a community
oriented process.

3. In India, about 13,720 sacred
groves have been enumerated so
far from 19 states.
From Karnataka, sacred groves
have been reported from the
districts of Uttara Kannada,
Shimoga, Kodagu, Udupi and
Dakshina Kannada.
Locally called Devarakadu,
Nagabana, Kan, Bhootha bana,
Pavithra vana….
Named after a variety of local
deities, managed by local agrarian
communities/families

4. State-wise distribution of Sacred Groves
Underestimation!

5. Extensively studied in Kerala,
Maharashtra, Himachala Pradesh……
Last shelters of natural vegetation in
many parts of India
Repository of valuable biodiversity,
especially endemic, rare and economically
valuable plants (medicinal).
In Kerala, SG’s of 1.42 sq. km.
Encompasses 722 angiosperm species
while 90 sq. km. Of Silent Valley has just
960 sps.
A new species Kunstleria keralensis
(Fabaceae)reported only from sacred
groves

6. In Karnataka, some studies undertaken in
Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Shimogga,
Kodagu and Uttara Kannada.
1214 SG’s recorded from Kodagu – total
extent is 2550.45 ha.
Kans of Uttara Kannada – rich in
endemics like Myristica spp. Garcinia
spp. Natural strands of Vateria indica
found only in SG’s!
A new tree species Semecarpus
kathlekanensis (Anacardiaceae) reported
from Kathlekan SG (Myristica swamp).

7. Semecarpus
kathlekanensis
A new species reported from the
Kathlekan sacred grove (Myristica
swamps) of Uttara Kannada, Karnataka
Only about 250
plants all
over the world – Tree
species with smallest
population!

8. SG’s of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada –
little scientific attention.
Network of numerous small SG’s
dedicated to Naga (serpent god) and local
Bhoothas.
Individually smaller in size, collectively of
great conservation significance.
Managed by agrarian families (Family
groves)

9. Total villages No. villages No. SG’s recorded
surveyed
Dakshina 90 2144
Kannada- 374
Udupi - 254 6 482
Total- 628 96 2626
GLOBAL HOTSPOT OF SACRED GROVES!?
Ref: Achar K. P. and Nayak V. S. , 2006. Dakshina Kannadada Devara kadugalu (in Kannada).

10. Traditional Deities of sacred groves

11. Preliminary studies indicate that…..
Last shelters of natural vegetation in
coastal regions.
Rich in plant diversity.
Rich in Endemic species, medicinal
plants, RET species.

12. Repository of huge trees and liana……..
Liana of stunning girth
Gigantic wild mango tree
(Entada purseatha)

13. Albizia lebbeck/Mimosaceae/Bage
Alstonia scholaris/Apocynaceae/Pale
Aphanamixis polystachya/Meliaceae/Rohituka
Barringtonia racemosa/Lecythidaceae/Samudrapala
Bauhinia malabarica/Papilionaceae/Mandara
Calophyllum inophyllum/Guttiferae/Ponnekai mara
Cinnamomum verum/Lauraceae/Ijin
Drypetes roxburghii/Euphorbiaceae/Putranjeeva
Ficus benghalensis/Moraceae/Alada mara
Ficus microcarpa/Moraceae/Ittida mara
Ficus racemosa/Moraceae/Arthi mara
Garcinia gummigutta/Guttiferae/Uppage puli
Garcinia indica/ Guttiferae/Punarpuli
Garcinia morella/Guttiferae/Ardala
Hydnocarpus pentandra/Flacourtiaceae/Surante
Madhuca neriifolia/Sapotaceae/Irpe

14. Mallotus philippensis/ Euphorbiaceae/Kunkumada mara
Euphorbiaceae/
Nothopegia racemosa/Anacardiaceae
Nothopodytes nimnoniana/Icacinaceae/Durvasane mara
Icacinaceae/
Oroxylum indicum/Bignoniaceae/Anemoonku
Bignoniaceae/
Pajanelia longifolia/Bignoniaceae/Mandeli pale
Bignoniaceae/
Pterocarpus marsupium/Papilionaceae/Bengada mara
Papilionaceae/
Sterculia foetida/Sterculiaceae/Peenari
Sterculiaceae/
Tabernaemontana heyneana/Apocynaceae/Kokke kayi
Apocynaceae/
Terminalia bellirica/Combretaceae/Shanthi kayi
Combretaceae/
Zanthoxylum rhetsa/Rutaceae/Kare mara
Rutaceae/
Many are RET species

15. Climbers and Shrubs:
Alangium salvifolium/ Alangiaceae/Ankole
Alangiaceae/
Anamirta cocculus/ Menispermaceae/Chiplotte
Menispermaceae/
Cassia spp./ Caesalpiniaceae
Clerodendrum spp./ Verbenaceae
Costus speciosus/Zingiberaceae/ Nayi karumbu
Zingiberaceae/
Cyclea peltata/ Menispermaceae/Padala
Menispermaceae/
Gloriosa superba/ Liliaceae/Gouri poo
Liliaceae/
Ixora coccinea/Rubiaceace/ Kepula
Rubiaceace/
Jasminum malabaricum/ Oleaceae/Adroli
Oleaceae/
Memecylon malabaricum/ Melastomataceae/Ollekodi
Melastomataceae/
Salacia chinensis/ Salaciaceae/Akanayaka
Salaciaceae/
Uvaria narum/ Annonaceae/Kariya maderi
Annonaceae/
Ventilago madraspatana/ Rhamnaceae/Aithal
Rhamnaceae/
Vitex negundo/ Verbenaceae/Nekki
Verbenaceae/

16. Ampelocissus latifolia / Vitaceae
Nothopodytes nimnoniana / Icacinaceae
Cissus repens / Vitaceae
Anamirta cocculus / Menispermaceae
Capparis floribunda / Capparidaceae
Hydnocarpus pentandra / Flacourtiaceae
Garcinia morella / Cluciaceae
Sterculia foetida / Sterculiaceae
Aphanamixis polystachya / Meliaceae
Nothopegia racemosa / Anacardiaceae
Syzygium lanceolatum / Myrtaceae
Lagerstroemia microcarpa /Lagerstromiaceae
Drypetes roxburghii / Euphorbiaceae
Blepharistemma membranifolia / Rhizophoraceae
Ref: Bhat, K. G. 2003. Flora of Udupi.

17. Some Medicinal species
commonly found in sacred
groves of Coastal
Karnataka………

23. Freshwater swamps..highly threatened habitats…

24. THREATS TO SACRED GROVES
• ENCROACHMENT
• REJUVANATION – SANSKRITISATION
• EROSION OF TRADITIONAL BELIEFS
• FRAGMENTATION OF AGRARIAN FAMILIES

25. Inside view of a sacred grove – deity is only symbolical,
importance and reverence to the grove

26. Deities of modernised sacred groves –
only concrete and stone structures, Reverence
only to the deity!

27. Newly added
concrete structures
A sacred grove partially destroyed during renovation

29. WHEN THE LAST TREE IS CUT
WHEN THE LAST RIVER IS DRY
WHEN THE LAST FISH IS CAUGHT
THEN WE REALISE THAT
MONEY JUST CAN’T BE EATEN
THANKS
Dr. Jayakara Bhandary M.
Department of Botany
Government Arts and Science College
Karwar – 581301
jaikarb@yahoo.com