Sacred Groves Research Articles

Socio-Anthropological Factors as Sources of Desecration of Grébouo 1 Sacred Grove, Southwestern Cote d'Ivoire

This paper focuses on investigating the threats affecting Grebouo 1 forest grove (GFG) and their socio-anthropological drivers. Sociological surveys consist of semi-structured interviews and individual discussions among communities’ elders and households in four nearest villages surrounding GFG. The taboos implied a ban on damaging or disrespecting the area. Disrespecting the area included burning, hunting, cutting, and polluting the area through defecating, urinating, or sexual activities. Natives are the community that mostly (88%) collect plant resources inside GFG compared to Ivorian and West African migrants (5 and 11% respectively). For all the respondents, GFG is a place of supply (92% of the respondents) and secondly is a holy place (5% of the respondents). The rarefaction of forest resources in GFG region poses threats to the grove since the traditional beliefs ruling its management is no longer respected. The preservation of this grove necessitates the reconciliation between traditional beliefs, economic needs, and nature conservation.

Sacred groves: a traditional way of conserving plant diversity in West Midnapore District, West Bengal, India

Sacred groves are forest patches conserved by the local people interwined with their socio-cultural and religious practices. An extricable link between the past and present society in terms of religion, socio-culture, heritage and biodiversity exists in the sacred groves. It is distributed globally where ethnic indigenous communities live. Several animals and plants that are threatened in forests are still abundant and well conserved in such sacred groves. The taboos, religious belief and sacredness play a significant role in promoting sustainable utilization and conservation. In this regard, the study of a sacred grove in the district of West Midnapore in West Bengal highlighting the tradition may provide a powerful tool for ensuring biodiversity conservation through community participation.

The effectiveness of the conservation of Korean village groves (Maeulsoop) based on an assessment of tree ages

This study seeks to discover whether historical village groves in Korea are, as previous studies on sacred groves (SGs) have found, better conserved than protected forests (PFs). In this study, we measured tree ages in four Korean village groves (KVGs) and one PF in Korea. The KVG trees were found to be statistically younger than those of the PF (Seorak Forest), indicating that significant age gaps exist between the actual tree ages and the historical ages of KVGs. The results may be attributed to the unique management strategies of the KVGs. Rather than preserving KVGs as undisturbed forests, they have historically been managed to optimize the utilitarian benefits to agricultural activities in rural society. Our findings suggest future management strategies for conserving KVGs.

Woody Species Composition Analysis of Shawo Sacred Forest, Ethiopia

In sacred forests of indigenous communities, landscapes are deemed sacred and are protected through social norms and spiritual values. The main objective of this study was to analyze the woody species composition of Shawo forest and explore the traditional governing systems that safeguard the sacred forest up to the present. Systematic sampling method was used to collect data. Accordingly, 42 quadrats each with 400 m2 (20 m X 20 m) was laid along the 14 transect lines. All woody plant species were collected and identified in each of these quadrats. Vegetation parameters such as DBH an Height of each quadrat were recorded. Interview and group discussion were held with local community to gather socio-cultural information. From the result, 16 plant species were found. The average plant density was 499 individual ha-1 with DBH and H value of 9.21 cm and 10.43 m respecitively.. The maximum mean plant height was 39.43 m (Syzygium guineense).The total basal area of all plant species was found to be 56.1 m2.ha-1. From the total plant species of Shawo forest Syzygium guineense has the largest basal area 35.77 m2.ha-1 (63.77%) occurring in all 42 plots. The most important plant species of Shawo forest was Syzygium guineense with important value index (IVI) of 151.7 contributing to 50.57% of total IVI. For future sustainability of Shawo forest, community traditional conservation practices should be appreciated and supported.

Sacred Groves in Western Himalaya, India: Community-Managed Nature Refuges for Conservation of Biodiversity and Culture

Background: Dedication of forests to a god or goddess is a potent example of an indigenous conservation practice, devised by native inhabitants to put an end to the unrestricted utilization of community forests. The present paper describes a case study of three little known Sacred Groves (SGs) from the Western Himalayas. SGs are communally protected forest fragments with significant religious connotations.Methods: A preliminary survey was conducted in and around these SGs to evaluate the status of biodiversity, different myths and beliefs associated with them and their role in the biodiversity conservation. After establishing oral prior informed consent, data was gathered from the local participants especially from elderly people through semi-structured questionnaires. Approximately 30% of the total households in each SG were interviewed. Two different sampling methods (random sampling and snowball sampling) were used for selection of informants from two different communities. The information collected included the general information regarding the SGs and the associated deity, nearby human occupancy, floral and faunal diversity and the ethnomedicinal property of different plants.Results: A total of 78 plant species (including 37 trees, 27 shrubs and 14 herbs) belonging to 58 genera and 41 families were reported from the three sacred groves. About 91% of these plant species had ethno-medicinal importance. A few rare and threatened animal species were also reported that included Naemorhedus gora (Himalayan goral, near threatened, NT) reported from SG2 and SG3; Panthera pardus (leopard, vulnerable, Vu) and Ursus thibetanus (black bear, critically endangered, CR) both reported from all the three SGs.Conclusion: SGs are not only the important repositories of ethno-medicinal plant species, but also act as corridors for animal migration in anthropogenic landscapes. However, in recent times, the SGs are threatened by uncontrolled and unplanned developmental activities, as well as invasive species, land use change, population growth and sociocultural change. Therefore, the specific guidelines to protect these sacred areas and promote traditional knowledge about conservation are pressing.Keywords: Sacred Grove, Ethnobotany, Traditional Beliefs, Biodiversity Conservation, Deity, Western Himalaya.

Indigenous people social function and building character education (Study in Kampar Indigenous people to sacred grove in Kenagarian Rumbio, Riau Province)

Ponte Academic JournalFeb 2019, Volume 75, Issue 2 Indigenous people social function and building character education (Study in Kampar Indigenous people to sacred grove in Kenagarian Rumbio, Riau Province)Author(s): Dr. Ahmal ,Nana Supriatna, Kokom Komalasari, Erlina WiyanartiJ. Ponte - Feb 2019 - Volume 75 - Issue 2 doi: 10.21506/j.ponte.2019.2.4 Abstract:This paper explains the function and social in the character education building from environmental awareness value perspective in Kampar indigenous people for the sacred grove or hutan larangan in Kenagarian Rumbio, Riau Province. Data collection applied qualitative research method in form of observation, interview, and documentation. The observation research scopes are village condition, sociocultural and economic activity of the people, village elder or ninik mamak, public figure, the trader, the local society with in-depth interview, and include snowball sampling to maximize the data collection activity. The documentation activities are a report from village administration, traders report, or literature works from the expert. Data analysis applied Miles & Huberman analysis method, such as data reduction, data display, verification/conclusion and triangulation data validation, member checking, and expert opinion. There are three social functions or folklore practiced in the building of character education through informal education in indigenous people, petatah petitih or proverbs and sayings channel, pantun expression, and wise advice from ninik mamak or adat chief. Social capital existence from ninik mamak in development of character education through role model from ninik mamak as social behavior, an awareness in the indigenous people social life, and religious life of Kampar indigenous people based on true value. \\r\\nKeywords: Education, Character, Sacred Grove, Indigenous People and Kampar Download full text:Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution Username Password

Assessment of Challenges and Potentials of Osunosogbo Sacred Grove Among Staff of National Commission for Museum and Monument, Osogbo, Osun State Nigeria

Assessment of Challenges and Potentials of Osunosogbo Sacred Grove Among Staff of National Commission for Museum and Monument, Osogbo, Osun State Nigeria

ЕКОТУРИЗМ В МЕЖАХ СВЯЩЕННИХ ПРИРОДНИХ МІСЦЬ

Goal. The purpose of this article is the theoretical justification for the possibility of developing ecotourism in the natural sacred places of the world. Methods. In this regard, the main tasks of the scientific work on the subject are: the coverage of forms and approaches to the use of associative cultural landscapes, which combine a high level of landscape diversity and cultural characteristics of indigenous peoples, for the needs of tourism. Results. The article gives examples of the development of eco-tourism within sacred natural sites, among which the New Zealand national park "Tongariro", which annually visits about a million tourists; The Kenyan Sacred Forests of Kaya, and the American National Monument, the "Devil's Towers", which has attracted climbers from all over the world for a long time. Scientific novelty. Revealed opportunities and shows the ways in which the access of ecotourists to sacred natural places is realized in the world. Practical significance. Ecotourism shows a great potential. Subject to the requirements of tourists regarding respect for the value system of indigenous and locals, ecotourism can evolve in the territories of sacred natural places.

Impact of Cultural Belief on the Preservation of Agunabani Sacred Forest in Okposi, Nigeria

Impact of Cultural Belief on the Preservation of Agunabani Sacred Forest in Okposi, Nigeria

Pilgrimage Circuit of Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove and Shrine, Osun State, Nigeria

One religious tourism destination site of note in Southwestern Nigeria is the Osun Osogbo sacred grove and shrine located along the banks of the Osun River within the city of Oshogbo, Osun State, Nigeria. The sacred grove and shrine were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2005. This paper examines the routes and trails people take to get to Osun Osogbo sacred grove and shrine to ascertain the mode of transportation to the destination site as well as the factors mitigating against the sacred grove. The study uses ethnographic methods to elicit information from respondents and data collected were analyzed descriptively. The paper argues that Osun Osogbo sacred grove and shrine can improve the living standard of the host community and create job opportunities if its access routes and trails are improved upon by the government.

The Place of Traditional Artists in the Preservation of Nigerian Art

Human beings have always left signs of their activities behind them. These signs take both tangible and intangible forms, including buildings, sites, sculptural works, antiquities, rock art paintings, belief systems, and traditions. The people of this millennium have recognized the remains of our fore-bears namely archaeological, architectural monuments, sites, and cultural works as an integral part of the cultural heritage of all humanity. They also recognized the fact that heritage is an invaluable source of information about the lives and activities of human beings and their artistic and technical capabilities over the centuries. The Nigerian Ancient Art Tradition which spans eight thousand years is a product of diverse artists from Dufuna, Nok, Igbo-Ukwu, Ife, Owo, Benin, Tada, etc. Also remarkable are the sculptural works created by late Susanne Wenger (an Austrian) and her New Sacred Art Movement in Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, which gave meaning to open spaces within the grove. This paper examines the role played by these artworks to project Nigeria to the global art world. The benefits to Nigeria and the global art traditions and recommendations on how to revive this dwindling economic resource will also be examined. The approach used was to study the artworks produced by some of these artists. Some of the findings were that the works were carefully done with suitable materials that have withstood climate change.

Study of conserved Biodiversity in Bhuvada baba sacred grove (Dhar, M.P.)

Sacred grove is small part of forest which is conserved by local community though their social rituals. It is conducted effectively. It is excellent example of In-situ conservation of natural resources. This kind of nature conservation practice has been observed worldwide including India. Present paper embodies study on conserved biodiversity of Bhuvada baba sacred grove at Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh. In this area 83 plants and 30 animals were observed, including one species of fungi, 23 herbs, 09 shrubs, 11 climbers and 39 trees. Likewise 02 insects, 16 birds, 05 reptiles and 07 mammal species were identified from this area. Many religious and social activations/ rituals are organized in this sacred grove around the year.

Managing for the Spirit

Like his Puritan ancestors, Joseph Smith Jr, founder of the Mormon (LDS) movement, often went to the woods to pray. In the spring of 1820, Smith, living in upstate New York, claimed to have witnessed a series of visions of angels, God, and Jesus Christ. Since then Mormonism has become globally significant. That small grove is now a 150-acre sacred site visited by thousands of Mormon pilgrims each year. Informally protected since the late 1800s, the LDS Church shifted its approach to management of the Grove in the 1990s by emphasizing the importance of ecological health and restoration. This article outlines the history of management and protection of the LDS Sacred Grove as a sacred site and discusses the spiritual importance of the site to Mormon faithful, and the valuation of the Grove as essentially instrumental rather than intrinsic.

Problematizing Ideas of Purity and Timelessness in the Conservation Narratives of Sacred Groves in Xishuangbanna, China

The recent promotion of sacred groves in conservation often assumes four problematic narratives of nature and culture based on ideas of purity and timelessness: (1) sacred groves are remnants of pristine forests; (2) nature is made sacred through the absence of human activity; (3) sacred groves are a-historical; and (4) sacred groves are removed from modernity. I problematize these narratives using ethnographic analyses of sacred groves protected by ethnic minority Dai communities in Xishuangbanna, a region containing China's richest biodiversity. I argue that the nature-culture divide inherent in conservation literature poorly describes sacred groves, which are dynamic entities integrated into modern Dai communities. Moreover, I contend that these narratives persist because they are deployed for political agendas by various outside actors (e.g., government, conservationists, tourism developers) and occasionally by Dai communities themselves during the co-production of landscapes, livelihoods, and identity corresponding to times of rapid transformation in a modern world.

The Second Sacred Grove: The Influence of Greenville, Indiana, on Joseph Smith’s 1832 First Vision Account

Research Article| October 01 2018 The Second Sacred Grove: The Influence of Greenville, Indiana, on Joseph Smith’s 1832 First Vision Account Matthew C. Godfrey Matthew C. Godfrey MATTHEW C. GODFREY is a general editor and the managing historian of the Joseph Smith Papers. He is the author of Religion, Politics, and Sugar: The Mormon Church, the Federal Government, and the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company, 1907–1921 (2007), which was a co-winner of the Mormon History Association’s Smith-Pettit Award for Best First Book. Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google Journal of Mormon History (2018) 44 (4): 1–18. https://doi.org/10.5406/jmormhist.44.4.0001 Cite Icon Cite Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Permissions Search Site Citation Matthew C. Godfrey; The Second Sacred Grove: The Influence of Greenville, Indiana, on Joseph Smith’s 1832 First Vision Account. Journal of Mormon History 1 October 2018; 44 (4): 1–18. doi: https://doi.org/10.5406/jmormhist.44.4.0001 Download citation file: Zotero Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All Scholarly Publishing CollectiveUniversity of Illinois PressJournal of Mormon History Search Advanced Search The text of this article is only available as a PDF. Copyright 2018 by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois2018 Article PDF first page preview Close Modal You do not currently have access to this content.

Assessment of economically important floristic diversity of Kamrunag Sacred Grove and surroundings in Himachal Pradesh, North Western Himalaya, India

The Sacred Groves of the Indian Himalayan Region have not been explored for the ecosystem services provided by them. Therefore, present attempt has been made to assess the economically important floristic diversity of Kamrunag Sacred Grove. A total of 249 species of economical importance belonging to 74 families and 168 genera were recorded. Of these 165 species were, used as medicine and 37 species used as edible; fodder (23 spp.); fuel (11spp.); timber (06 spp.); religious (03spp.); Dye and miscellaneous (4 spp.). Different parts of the plants were utilized, of which Whole plant was used in majority of cases. Maximum number of native (134), non-native (115) and near endemic (68) species were found at an altitudinal range of 1800-2800m. Four species (i.e., Pimpinella acuminata, Goldfussia dalhousiana, Angelica glauca and Wikstroemia canescens) were found endemic to the Indian Himalayan Region. Management options for the conservation and sustainable utilization of the species have been suggested.

Diversity of Medicinal plants in selected sacred groves and their value in rural life of Tribals of Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India

Sacred groves are the reservoirs of biodiversity and help in conserving the resources available due to strong cultural and religious beliefs. The study was conducted in four selected sacred groves of Vilavancode and Kalkulam taluks to evaluate the ethnomedicinal values of plants used by the rural communities of Kanyakumari district. A total of 83 ethnomedicinal plants were recorded as per the information given by the rural communities. Apocynaceae was a dominant family followed by Euphorbiaceae. Leaves were used predominantly and internal intake was done mostly than external use. Medicinal preparations were largely taken in the form of juice, paste and decoction. These herbal medicines were frequently used for skin diseases, fever, asthma, body pain, bone fractures, gynaecological disorders, etc. These valuable uses of medicinal plants must be documented for the goodness of man.

Tourism Development and Sustainable Economic Development: Evidence from South Western Nigeria

Aims: The study was done (i) to examine the influence of tourism on sustainable economic development, and (ii) to identify the factors affecting tourism development in South Western Nigeria.
 Study Design: Descriptive survey design was employed for the study. 
 Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in seven cities of different states of South Western Nigeria, namely: Erin-Ijesa, Osun Oshogbo Sacred Grove in Osun State; Oyo town in Oyo State, Ikogosi, Ekiti State, Abeokuta in Ogun State, Idanre town of Ondo State and Victoria Island, Lagos.
 Methodology: Ten (10) respondents each from all the seven cities were selected and questionnaire and the oral interview was done with them. The obtained data were statistically analysed using SPSS.
 Results: Respondents agreed that tourism had improved household income and government revenue tremendously and lack of interest by financial institutions to lend capital to tourism investors are significant challenges confronting tourism. The tourism development has a statistically significant influence on sustainable economic development also.
 Conclusion: The study concludes that development of tourism is an engine room of economically sustainable development, and recommends that government should attract private investors to invest in tourism, to foster the state economy.

Preferences for Attributes of Sacred Groves and Temples along an Urbanization Gradient in the National Capital Region of India

In India, sacred groves have been considered the forested abodes of one or multiple deities and are often managed by communal governance systems. As land development has progressed, the population surrounding these and other green spaces has changed, and responsibility for their protection has shifted to the bureaucracies that manage urban environments. The sacred grove now means different things to different people, and the value of its protection is increasingly difficult to characterize. In this context, we study individual preferences for sacred groves and non-forested temples along an urbanization gradient –defined by land use– in rural locales near the megacity of Delhi, informed by the theoretical perspective of Sanskritization. We use revealed and stated preference data that includes information on visits to forests and worship sites, weighting for relevant forest characteristics, and socio-demographic factors related to culture. Respondents generally place higher value on sacred groves than on non-sacred green space, but more urbanized and sanskritized individuals exhibit higher valuations for non-forested temples and conservation of urban green space. Taken together, these results suggest a potential increase in the perception of non-sacred and non-use forest value among urbanized respondents.

Urbanisation forces on the landscapes and the changing value-systems of Osun Sacred Grove UNESCO Site, Osogbo, Nigeria

The metamorphic process of rapidly changing value-systems and landscapes of the traditional Yoruba city of Osogbo, Nigeria is mainly due to the trio of urbanisation, modernisation and globalisation forces. Through a qualitative analysis of the monarchical periods, the study documents the transformations that have occurred to the value-systems and respective urban landscapes of the city from its grove origin c.1800 to 2015. The aim is to examine the process of urban landscape development with a view to generating a landscape model. Through a monarchical chronology, it accounts for the roles of politics, sociocultural orders, architecture, land use, urban governance, housing and religion in shaping the present urban form. The periods were discovered to have emerged along with four semi-concentric landscape categories including the natural, traditional, modern and post-modern. The study asserts the roles of the monarchical system in landscape heritage conservation and concludes with a landscape prognosis model for the archetypal city, a hub for the Yoruba nation.