Agbogidi and Benson, World J. Biol. Med. Science Volume 1 (4), 40-48, 2014

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World Journal of Biology and Medical Sciences Published by Society for Advancement of Science® ISSN 2349-0063 (Online/Electronic) Volume 1, Issue- 4, 40-48, October-December, 2014

WJBMS 1/4/22/2014 All rights reserved www.sasjournals.com A Double Blind Peer Reviewed Journal [email protected] / [email protected] RESEARCH PAPER Received: 30/08/2014 Revised: 27/10/2014 Accepted: 28/10/2014 Potential Role of Sacred Groves in the Maintenance of Biodiversity O.M. Agbogidi and E.E. Benson Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT Sacred groves or sacred sites are natural areas that have been protected by the local people from over-exploitation for social and religious reasons. They include the magical, defiled and fetish groves. They provide medicinal plants, act as a sort of insurance against emergencies as well as shelter for important species of animals. Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth that includes variation at all level of biological organization from genes to species to ecosystem. It ranges from species, genetic, ecosystem and functional diversity which supports the evolution of differentiation, representing all forms of plant and animal life and provides materials for modern medicines. The roles of sacred groves in biodiversity maintenance include biodiversity conservation, conservation of rare/endangered species, habitat for plants and animals, regeneration of plant species as well as water resource conservation. Challenges of sacred groves in the maintenance of biodiversity include farming and logging, weakening of traditional institutions and lack of government support. Traditional approaches of biodiversity conservation should be recognized by the policy-makers. These practices must be integrated in the policies for better management of biodiversity in consultation with the local community. KEYWORDS: Sacred Groves, Impact, Biodiversity and Conservation.

INTRODUCTION have been made in Greek and Sanskrit Sacred groves are a very ancient and classics. Sacred groves have been widespread phenomenon in the old world reported from many parts of the world cultures. References about sacred groves like Mexico, Ghana, Nigeria, China, Syria Agbogidi and Benson, World J. Biol. Med. Science Volume 1 (4), 40-48, 2014 and Turkey, wherein there are areas In view of the adverse effects of where the tribal live and practice shifting biodiversity degradation, ecologists, cultivation. However, it appears that they environmentalists and conservationists are entirely unknown to the New World has made conservation of biodiversity as (Rathore and Shekhawat, 2011). Sacred an issue of global, national and regional groves were a feature of the mythological significance. Many areas have been landscape and the cult practice of Old declared as protected areas and various Europe, of the most ancient levels of in-situ and ex-situ conservation practices Germanic paganism, Greek mythology, have also been undertaken in different Slavic mythology, Roman mythology, and parts of the world. Many laws governing in Druidic practice. Sacred groves also the biodiversity conservation have also feature prominently in many Asian and been enacted from time to time. Besides African mythologies and cultures, most these formal laws, there were many notably in India, Japan, West Africa, and traditional conservation practices of Anatolia. In Syria, some sacred groves are indigenous communities in many parts of believed to have been made during the world, which contributed to the Assyrian times. The most famous sacred conservation and protection of grove in mainland Greece was the oak biodiversity. A good example of such grove at Dodona. Outside the walls of traditional practices is the conservation Athens, the site of the Academy was a and protection of small forest patches by sacred grove of olive trees, still recalled in dedicating them to the local deities by the phrase "the groves of Academe." various indigenous communities of the Since time immemorial conservation of world. Such forest patches are called natural resource has been an integral part “sacred groves” (Mgumia and Oba, 2003). of diverse cultures in different ways. The Sacred groves are the tracts of virgin traditional worship practices show the forest that were left untouched by the symbiotic relation of human beings and local inhabitants, harbour rich nature. Indigenous communities all over biodiversity, and are protected by the the world lived in harmony with the local people due to their cultural and nature and conserved its valuable religious beliefs and taboos that the biodiversity. In course of time, science and deities reside in them . technology developed and industries were established and expanded to meet the Sacred groves: their diversity and increasing demands of the people. distribution Various anthropogenic activities have Sacred groves or sacred sites are natural altered the structure and function of areas that have been protected by the different ecosystems all over the world. local people from over-exploitation for One of the most conspicuous effects of social and religious reasons. Sacred sites ecosystem perturbation has been the are established for a number of purposes. depletion of biodiversity (Luo et al., 2001). Often, they are considered to be the Disappearance of species due to habitat residence of a local deity, or contain an alteration, overexploitation, pollution, object or body of water that houses the global climate change and invasion of deity. Groves’ supportive role in species exotic species is so fast that many maintenance, different ecological valuable taxa may vanish even before functions is well recognized (Jamir and they are identified and their scientific Pandey, 2003; Chima and Nuga, 2011). It value is discovered. is believed that these sacred virgin forests

41 Agbogidi and Benson, World J. Biol. Med. Science Volume 1 (4), 40-48, 2014 date back to thousands of years when event, such as a visit by a deity, the birth human society was in the primitive state. of a unicorn, or a dryad or nymph's long- The area of sacred groves ranges from few time residence in the grove (Malhotra et square meters to several hectares. There al., 2001). exist some fascinating examples of forest ii. Defiled and cursed groves patches harbouring native vegetation, Some sacred groves tell a tragic story: which have been intertwined with various Their plants have been dug up; trees aspects of indigenous, cultural and burned or chopped down, water sources religious practices along with the fouled, or standing stones overturned and associated taboos (Khan et al., 2008). broken. Such groves have been defiled, Sacred groves present in humanized stripped of all their powers until druids landscapes are especially important in this reclaim them. Someone reads a cursed regard. They are often part of the scroll, a deity's avatar passes through, a heterogeneous landscape intermingled druid dies violently, or another highly with agricultural field, plantation, barren charged event takes place (Malhotra et land, water bodies as well as villages. al., 2001). Studies highlight that, groves support a iii. Fetish groves good number of rare and endemic Some groves are often considered to be species, which are extra-sensitive the residence of a local deity, or contain compared to common species, and persist an object or body of water that houses only in favourable niches, and the sacred the deity. Groves of this kind are groves are ideal places for them commonly referred to as fetish groves. (Jayarajan, 2004; Sukumaran and Raj, Some sites are burial grounds, or the 2007). However, there are gaps in former location of a village or the site of knowledge about these endemics, like an important event, and therefore are their population status, reproductive thought to be the domain of ancestral biology and ecology. Most studies on spirits (Malhotra et al., 2001). sacred groves have hovered around floral Uses of sacred groves and faunal diversity and maintenance of Sacred groves provide various ecosystem rare threatened and endemic species with services which include: sketchy descriptions of the ecological i. Medicinal plants are harvested profiles and disturbance regimes. Sacred from the site by religious practitioners, groves are a very ancient and widespread who may serve as the primary provider of phenomenon in the old world cultures. medical services for the community. References about sacred groves have ii. Sacred groves act as a sort of been made in Greek and Sanskrit classics. insurance against emergencies; in cases of Sacred groves have been reported from famine or other natural disasters food and many parts of the world like Mexico, materials may be collected from the grove Ghana, Nigeria, China, Syria and Turkey, to ensure survival. wherein there are areas where the tribal iii. As some of the last remnants of live and practice shifting cultivation. forest in areas that have been extensively However, it appears that they are entirely cleared, sacred groves act as sanctuaries unknown to the New World. for native flora and fauna. i. Magical sacred groves iv. They act as seed banks from which A grove may have been innately magical other areas are repopulated. since the creation of the world or have They shelter species important to gained its magic through an unusual agriculture such as pollinators and those

42 Agbogidi and Benson, World J. Biol. Med. Science Volume 1 (4), 40-48, 2014 that eat crop pests, and for game species Importance of biodiversity that are over-hunted outside of the grove. The importance of biodiversity in ecosystem management includes; Biodiversity and what it entails i. It represents the almost variety of Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth plant and animal life, and the variety of that includes variation at all level of the types of earth’s ecosystem that biological organization from genes to support life as we know it. species to ecosystem (Agbogidi and ii. It enables human to survive in Aghojare, 2014). Genetic, organization what would otherwise result in adverse and ecological diversity are all elements of conditions. biodiversity with each including a number iii. Biodiversity supports the evolution of components. Biodiversity is a key and differentiation among the varying measure of the health of any ecosystem, species. and of our entire planet. Every organism iv. It is responsible for the differences in an ecosystem, or biome, relies on other among groups within the large species. organisms and the physical environment. v. Much of our modern medicine is For example, plant and animal species based on combinations of biologically need each other for food, and depend on diverse substances isolated from various the environment for water and shelter. plants. Biodiversity describes how much variety vi. Biodiversity provides forest an ecosystem has, in terms of resources dwellers with their daily need-food, and species and also genetically within building materials, fodder, medicines and species. A more diverse ecosystem will a variety of other products (Agbogidi and have more resources to help it recover Eshegbeyi, 2008). from famine, drought, disease or even the vii. Biodiversity also provides us with extinction of a species. There are several lumber, granite, and marble to name a levels of biodiversity, each indicating how few of the building materials much human diverse the genes, species and resources habitation depends upon we would are in a region. Biodiversity can grope as largely be without shelter (Agbogidi and species, genetic, and ecosystem diversity Okonta, 2011; Agbogidi and Okonta, and very recently functional diversity has 2014). added. The way species behave, obtain Roles of sacred groves in the food and use the natural resources of an maintenance of biodiversity ecosystem is known as functional Since last three decades, conservation diversity. In general a species-rich scientists and researchers have realized ecosystem is presumed to have high value of these traditional forests managed functional diversity, because there are and protected by local communities. In many species with much different several countries, extensive research has behaviour. Understanding an ecosystem’s been carried out to know the role of functional diversity can be useful to sacred groves in conservation of ecologists trying to conserve or restore biodiversity relating to mainly higher plant damaged it, because knowing the and animal diversity. Precise role of behaviours and roles of species can point sacred groves in biodiversity maintenance to gaps in a food cycle or ecological niches are provided below. that are lacking species (Agbogidi and i. Biodiversity conservation Okonta, 2011). Sacred groves harbours large number of plant species clearly indicating the

43 Agbogidi and Benson, World J. Biol. Med. Science Volume 1 (4), 40-48, 2014 diversity maintained in them. These groves healthy specimens of Aporosa groves harbour various tree species like lindleyana are seen in large numbers. It is Sapindous laurifolia, Strerospermum spp, also rare plant in the region. Other Firmiana colerata and Antiaris toxicaria, endemic and rare species like Antiaris many epiphytes like Biophytum toxicaria, Sagerea laurifolia, Butea sensitivum, Remusatia vivipera lianas like parviflora, Canarium strictum and Persia Gnetum ula and Dalbergia sympathetica macarantha are best preserved only with many herbs and grasses. Epiphytic through this traditional forest orchids like Acamphe spp, Dendrobium conservation system. spp and Malaxis spp are seen on the large iii. Habitat for birds and animals tree trunks in these groves. Dentropthoe These well preserved or semi preserved falcata a parasitic plant is common in habitats offer last refuse to the regional most of the sacred groves. These groves fauna. Birds like large pied Hornbill were also have ferns like Adiantum, Cheilanthus once common in several parts of the albomarinatum Drynaria quercifolia and world, they are observed only in the Athyrium hohenackerium and bryophytes sacred groves now. The large trees like Riccia spp and Marchantia spp. Apart provide rusting places to these from several plants species, several birds, magnificent birds, with abundant food in insects and animals of economic the form of various fruits. Number of large importance are also found in sacred pied hornbills is seen in Kulye, Vashi and groves (Agbogidi,2010; Chima and Nuga, Marleshwar sacred groves. These birds 2011). Such an ecosystem with various life are not commonly seen in the forms is not prevalent in all the sacred surroundings. Snakes of Marleshwar cave groves but could be observed in certain temple of lord Shiva and surrounding well-protected sacred groves. It is sacred grove of 22 ha on the hill is important to know why certain groves are famous. Such small but rich forest patches in better condition though the processes are the last refuses for animals like operating for modernization and barking dears, and in rare cases Leopards. urbanization are similar. Main reasons The birds and animals play important role include the distance of the sacred grove in dispersal of plants. from the village, terrain of the sacred iv. Regeneration potential grove, various legends regarding the Natural regeneration of plants mainly tree sacred groves protecting deity and it species has become a difficult and rare religious importance and fame. phenomenon. Most of the land is ii. Conservation of rare/ endangered degraded with soil hardened. Most of the plants non-agricultural area are devoid of any Sacred groves have preserved many rare vegetation and are exposed to heavy and endangered plant and animal species grazing. Such areas are devoid of any with many important medicinal plants regenerating tree species. Diversity of among them. In India, sacred grove which grasses is also reducing due to heavy is about 2 ha, healthy populations of grazing in many parts of the project area. Hydnocarpus pentandra spp are seen. It is Such areas do not have enough soil a rare and endemic medicinal plant. moisture for germination of seeds fallen Populations of Nothopodytes nimoniana through dispersal. Where as in sacred an endemic medicinal tree, in demand for groves the soil is not hardened, there is it’s anti cancer properties are seen in enough soil moisture for the germination many sacred groves. In Hative, sacred and further establishment of the sapling.

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There are better chances of regeneration The nutrients in the soil are replenished as of tree species from the sacred groves. In leaf litter and other organic material some sacred groves regenerating saplings decomposes. This means that the soil in of trees are seen in large numbers. In case the grove and in the immediate vicinity is many forest tree species it is difficult to more fertile than the soil of the raise the seedlings artificially in the surrounding area that has been nurseries. In such cases the regeneration intensively farmed (Malhotra et al., 2001). potential of sacred groves could be used iii. Sacred groves provide a sanctuary positively. These saplings from the grove for native species of plants and animals could be collected at right time for that have no other habitat left, or that are plantations on other wastelands or for eco over hunted or harvested. The groves not restoration of sacred groves using only protect species of biological diversity indigenous species. value, they also protect species that are v. Water resources conservation important to agriculture. They harbor Many of the sacred groves have water species of plants that are closely related sources in the form of wells, tanks and to local crop varieties and may be used to streams within the groves or in the improve the cultivated types. Sacred immediate surroundings. There are groves provide living space for species of taboos and sanction systems associated insects and birds that control crop pests with management of sacred groves or act as pollinators for crops (Malhotra et resources especially plant resources in the al., 2001). earlier days. But there was no restriction Challenges of sacred groves in the or taboo associated with use of water maintenance of biodiversity from the sacred grove. Problem of water Factors and challenges that cause scarcity is acute in summer in this area degradation or serve as threats to the and people are using water from the sustainability of sacred groves in the sacred groves for drinking and household maintenance of biodiversity are complex purposes. Perennial stream of water in and interrelated. They arise from sacred groves provide drinking water to commercial factors such as; villager in some areas from March to May i. Farming and logging. every year. These groves and their ii. Bush fires. catchments are better preserved. iii. Weakening of traditional institutions. Other uses of sacred groves iv. Lack of governmental support Other uses of sacred groves include: v. Lack of intervention of local i. Some groves protect actual bodies government agents of water, such as streams or springs. Even vi. The usurping of the powers of those that do not protect a water source traditional authorities in local government directly help to keep their immediate management. surroundings cooler and moister than the air would otherwise be. Vegetation The way forward retains water, and releases it slowly To facilitate the management and during dry periods. This adds humidity to conservation of sacred groves, the the air and cools it (Malhotra et al., 2001). following steps have been proposed: ii. Similarly, vegetation holds i. Nature reserve managers identify nutrients, and the root systems keep and map the sacred sites within the nutrients in the soil from leaching away. reserves, identify the main traditional

45 Agbogidi and Benson, World J. Biol. Med. Science Volume 1 (4), 40-48, 2014 management institutions, and increase recognized by the policy-makers. These their understanding of the traditional practices must be integrated in the restrictions on natural resources use and policies for better management of the de facto natural resources use by the biodiversity in consultation with the local local community. Sound management community. should be based on understanding and Systematic research is needed on the respecting the traditional practices and variety of sacred groves with respect to involving the local community in the biological matters such as their size, age, decision-making process. species composition, biodiversity level, ii. Involving the traditional and degree of naturalness as well as any approaches in nature reserve historical, social, cultural, religious, management, which can lead to the economic, political, tenure, and legal adoption of conservation goals in matters. In particular, there is a need for traditional communities. controlled comparisons between sacred iii. Conservation education through groves and adjacent secular ones of the religious rituals, and carried out by the same size and type of biotic community in grove keepers, will be more palatable to order to describe and assess any local people. New sacred mountains could differences that might arise because of even be created for conservation sacred status. purposes. iv. To promote the role of traditional ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS practices in conservation, it is necessary The Authorities of Delta State University, to revive the cultural traditions and help Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria where the local communities to develop new study was carried out are highly regulations on sustainable nature acknowledged. resource use to meet the changing environment. REFERENCES Agbogidi, O.M. and Eshegbeyi O. F. CONCLUSION (2008). Forestry development for a safe Sacred groves are a new frontier for environment In: Onykwelu, J.C., Adekunle, interdisciplinary research on their own V.A.J. and Oke, D. O. (eds.). Proceedings of merits and for their relevance for the 1st National Conference of the Forests biodiversity maintenance and and Forest Products Society of Nigeria conservation. The religious or cultural (FFPN) held at the Federal University of designation of an area as sacred, Technology, Akure, Ondo State between especially those which are relatively 16th - 18th April, 2008. Pp 95-98. natural, may either intentionally or Agbogidi, O.M. (2010). Contribution of coincidentally promote the conservation non-timber forest products to food of its associated biodiversity. Such sacred security in Nigeria. In: Onyekwelu, J., places can complement national parks Adekunle, V.A.J. and Oke, D.O. (eds.). and other protected areas established by Proceedings of the 2nd biennial National governments. Collaboration among Conference of the Forests and Forest religious, governmental, scientific, and/or Products Society held at the Federal conservation agencies may be desirable University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria for the protection of sacred sites and between 26th and 29th of April 2010. Pp landscapes. Traditional approaches of 372-379. biodiversity conservation should be

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Corresponding author: O.M. Agbogidi, Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria Email: [email protected] Phone: 07038679939

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