Mention with examples how sacred groves help in conservation of forests in India.
Indian society comprises several cultures, each with its own set of traditional methods of conserving nature and its creations.
Nature worship is an age old tribal belief based on the premise that all creation of nature have to be protected. Such beliefs have preserved several virgin forests in pristine form called sacred groves (the forests of Gods and Goddesses). These patches of forest or parts of large forests have been left untouched by the local people and any interference with them is banned.
Example: The Mundas and the Santhals of Chotanagpur region worship Mahua and Kadamba trees and the tribals of Orissa and Bihar worship the Tamarind and mango trees during weddings.
