INDIA, July 26, 2022 (BBC): Religious practices have preserved an estimated 100,000-150,000 sacred groves across India, ensuring they remain biodiverse habitats home to an array of endangered species. Scientists say cultural traditions and community leadership are playing a critical role in boosting conservation efforts and increasing green cover in India, which is losing forests at an alarming rate. “It’s something which is ingrained into every Hindu worshiper: temples, trees and ponds are all meant to be a collective space of worship,” says Lakshman Acharya. Tree worship has been practiced by Indians since time immemorial, and it is done out of gratitude since we know that we cannot survive without trees, says Rambabu. “The leaves and flowers of trees are a part of many rituals and ceremonies.”
In India, conservation and preserving natural resources has long been an important part of the cultural ethos, particularly in remote rural and indigenous populations. Many of these communities see themselves as part of a spiritual thread that connects them to their natural surroundings, revering unique plants, animals, rivers and mountains as their ancestors. “Villagers believe every creature has its right place,” says Annu Jalias, associate professor at Krea University in Andhra Pradesh and author of the book Forest of Tigers, about the Sundarbans, vast mangrove forests home to many sacred groves. “They don’t take the environment or the resources for granted. They worship the forests as it gives [local people] everything they need to lead a sustainable life.” Some local environmental organizations, such as the Applied Environmental Research Foundation (AERF) in Pune, are working with communities to conserve and restore neglected sacred groves. To date AERF has restored 80 sacred groves.
Much more of this interesting article at source.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220726-how-religious-worship-is-boosting-conservation-in-india