Perceptions and linkage of indigenous community in conservation of sacred natural sites in Assam, Northeast India

Abstract

Sacred natural sites are one of the most valuable ecosystems preserving the cultural integrity of different communities worldwide. Out of different sacred natural sites, sacred groves have acquired more importance due to spiritual theories and religious ethics. There are many sacred groves with diverse historical importance which are not yet been studied. The current study aimed to report the documentation and prominence established by the local community for the conservation of sacred groves in Assam during 2015 to 2017. Sacred groves were inventoried across the state, wherein sacred plants, people's perceptions, and anthropogenic disturbances were studied. Assam is a culturally rich state, and various ethnic communities conserved a total of 282 sacred groves covering an area of 672.48 ha, distributed within 23 AMSL to 955 AMSL. 83 tree species belonging to 68 genera and 38 families were listed, out of which 15 sacred trees were protected in the vicinity of the sacred groves. We observed a significant relationship between the cultural belief system and anthropogenic disturbances in the sacred groves, χ² (1, N= 768) =50.032, p<0.001. The record on the degree of anthropogenic disturbances revealed 51% of wood collection from sacred groves, followed by browsing/grazing activities (38%) and fire frequency of 11%. The result of our study has widened the perception of the need to conserve the sacred groves not merely for aesthetic but also for community implications intended for ecological significance.