Conservation of Bio-diversity and Ethnic Culture through Sacred Groves in Midnapur District, West Bengal, India

Sacred groves are small patches of forests, protected by local communities on religious grounds. These are a unique traditional Indian way of in-situ conservation of bio-diversity, regional ethno-medicinal plants and ethnic culture. This paper deals with 20 sacred groves of Midnapur District of West Bengal and also highlights the role played by these groves in biodiversity conservation, maintenance of local socio-cultural values of local backward communities even in present day's degeneration. Of the total 108 plant species, 82 are medicinal, 10 are rare and 24 plants which have sacred value are recorded for the first time from this region. Out of 88 mega fauna in these groves, 2 species belongs to Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and 11 are rare but which existed abundantly in the past. The threats to the sacred groves, deityies worshipped and local socio-cultural tradition related to these groves are also mentioned.