Episode 36: Conserving India's Sacred Groves with Archana Godbole, Founder, Applied Environmental Research Foundation

The Think Wildlife Podcast

Sacred Groves are amongst the finest examples of in-situ conservation. Often as large as 500 hectares, Sacred Groves are undisturbed and communally protected forest patches that are dedicated to local folk deities. Social traditions which embody both social and ecological values encourage the preservation of Sacred Groves. As a result, these groves contain an invaluable gene pool and also conserve immense biodiversity. Hunting and logging are banned in Sacred Groves.

Official records suggest that there are around 13,000 Sacred Groves spread across Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Madhya Pradesh, and the Western Ghats of Karnataka, Maharashtra. However, a few studies suggest that there could be as many as 100,000 to 150,000 Sacred Groves in the country.

Unfortunately, Sacred Groves are severely threatened by urbanization, over-exploitation of resources, and environmental destruction due to religious practices. On this episode, I interview Archana Godbole, the founder of Applied Environment Research Founder (AERF), on the conservation of Sacred Groves. AERF has worked extensively to preserve the Sacred Groves of Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra in the Northern Western Ghats.

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