Ethno-Conservation Practices in North Western Himalaya, India

Abstract

The North Western Himalaya is considered reverent and the entire mountain stretch is known as “Dev Bhumi” (God’s land) and the indigenous communities in the region practice several traditional practices which often oriented at the sustenance of the natural resources. Many Sacred Natural Sites (SNS) in the region has been conserved since the conservation of nature or natural objects has been considered necessary for survival and sustenance of human beings. Although these Sacred Natural Sites are protected by social taboos and religious faith but they are not immune to anthropogenic disturbances. The number of such sacred groves and other sacred places are declining due to modernization, urbanization, loss of faith in traditions and culture and heavy biotic pressure. In this chapter, an attempt has been made to collect information on different SNS in three North Western Himalayan States of India especially, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir.