Collective initiative to protect biodiversity of Kodagu Sacred Grove Santosh R. Sutar RCE Kodugu, Centre for Environment Education (CEE) 12th Block, 5th Main, Kumara Park West, BDA Office, Bengaluru -560020, India E-mail: santosh.sutar@ceeindia.org Natasha Ballal*, Pooja K.S. and Manjunath K.S. Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Karnataka, Bengaluru, India E-mail: Indianatashaballal@gmail.com* Abstract-Indigenous communities in many parts of the world have protected forests and worshiped as local deities to protect them from different calamities. These forests patches are sacred forests or groves based on spiritual and cultural values. Kodagu district in Karnataka, India has over 1214 sacred groves locally called as Devarakadu and is located in the Western Ghats-a Biodiversity hotspot. These groves are unique and rich in biodiversity and every village has at least one sacred grove. Today, due to changes in forest structure, religious beliefs, and perception towards the groves, sacred groves face many threats. Realizing the importance of community participation and a more holistic view towards the protection of ten selected groves in Kodagu, Forest Department in collaboration with Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Forestry College, Kodagu Model Forest Trust initiated a project “Conservation Education Programme for Sacred Groves”. Scientific inventory of flora and fauna along with the history, belief and myths of 10 selected groves in Kodagu are documented and published. Oriented teachers, students and youths residing around the groves experienced and realized the sacred grove importance. Posters and wayside informative panels helped to spread the message of sacred grove protection among the community. Trail path, signages created inside the groves enables tourist to enrich their experiences. Sensitized students compiled interesting stories and facts from their grand-parents and parents about their nearby groves. This initiative helps the forest department to draw up an effective grove management plan, to mitigate the loss of biodiversity and manage forest sustainably and thereby addressing SDG Goal 15. Keywords: Biodiversity, community conservation, scared groves of Kodagu, Sustainable development goals 190 Proceedings of the International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Policy and Practice 27-29 June 2016, Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand
Proceedings of International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the Sustainable Development Goals : Policy and Practice 27-29 June 2016 at the Sirindhorn International Environmental Park, Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand
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