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Critical Topics and Their Significance for the UPSC CSE Examination on February 06 20205

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What is the SC directive on sacred groves?

For Preliminary Examination: Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006, Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA) 1972

For Mains Examination: GS III - Environment & Ecology

Context:

On December 18, 2024, the Supreme Court directed the Forest Department of Rajasthan to map on the ground and via satellite every ‘sacred grove’ in detail. They were to be identified irrespective of their size and based “solely on their purpose and their cultural and ecological significance to the local community”. After mapping, the court directed the department to classify them as ‘forests’ and notify them as ‘community reserves’ under the Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA) 1972

Read about:

Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA) 1972

Community reserves

Key takeaways:

• Sacred groves hold deep ecological, spiritual, and cultural significance for communities. These forested areas are often regarded as sacred spaces associated with deities, ancestral spirits, and local legends.
• Their conservation is traditionally guided by religious beliefs, rituals, and customary laws that prohibit or strictly regulate resource extraction, ensuring their protection over generations.
• For indigenous and rural communities, sacred groves serve as vital biodiversity hotspots, preserving rare and endemic flora and fauna. They also function as reservoirs of medicinal plants and traditional knowledge, supporting local healthcare systems.
• Additionally, these groves play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance by preventing soil erosion, conserving water sources, and mitigating climate change impacts.
• Beyond their environmental importance, sacred groves foster a sense of identity, unity, and responsibility within communities. They reinforce traditional conservation ethics, strengthen cultural heritage, and provide spaces for communal gatherings, ceremonies, and spiritual practices. In many ways, sacred groves are living symbols of the harmonious relationship between humans and nature, emphasizing the value of community-led environmental stewardship

 Community reserves

Community reserves are a category of Protected Areas under the Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA), 2002, established on community or private land where local people voluntarily participate in habitat conservation. They complement national parks and wildlife sanctuaries by allowing communities to protect fauna, flora, and traditional conservation values while retaining ownership and management rights.

Key Features of Community Reserves:

• Voluntary Conservation: Landowners or communities willingly dedicate their land for conservation, ensuring biodiversity protection.
• Legal Protection: Once notified, the area is legally protected, and activities harming wildlife, boundary markers, or habitats are prohibited.
• Community Management: The Community Reserve Management Committee, comprising local representatives and Forest Department officials, oversees the reserve’s conservation efforts.
• Sustainable Use: While conservation is the primary goal, regulated traditional practices that do not ha