Maarg Manthan · Topic 20.5

List of Sacred Groves and Mangrove Sites in India

Environment & Ecology › Protected Areas Lists and Recent Developments in Environment · Topic 20.5

Sacred groves are patches of forest or natural vegetation, from a few trees to many hectares, protected by local communities because of religious beliefs and customs, and found in many parts of India. Trees, animals and water bodies in these groves are not harmed, and taboos limit cutting, hunting and grazing, so they conserve old-growth forest, rare plants and water sources in landscapes that are otherwise cleared. Estimates of their number vary widely, from tens of thousands to over a hundred thousand, because many are small and unmapped. They have local names: kavu in Kerala, devrai or devrahati in Maharashtra, devarakadu in Karnataka, orans in Rajasthan, sarna or jaherthan in Jharkhand and parts of central India, law kyntang or law lyngdoh in Meghalaya, and dev van in Himachal Pradesh. The Mawphlang grove near Shillong is among the best known. Legal recognition is partial: some groves are inside forests or protected areas, while community reserves and conservation reserves under the Wildlife (Protection) Act and biodiversity heritage sites under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 offer ways to protect them. Mangroves are salt-tolerant forests of tropical and subtropical coasts. India's mangrove cover is about 4,990 square kilometres, around 0.15 percent of the country's area, by recent India State of Forest Reports, with West Bengal having the highest share, mainly in the Sundarbans, followed by Gujarat and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Hedge details: figures change in each report, so check the latest ISFR.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Environment & Ecology · Protected Areas Lists and Recent Developments in Environment

At a Glance

Sacred grove Community-protected forest patch
Kerala name Kavu
Rajasthan name Orans
Mangrove cover About 4,990 sq km
Top state West Bengal
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Environment & Ecology: Protected Areas Lists and Recent Developments in Environment

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows the international designations and turns to local traditions and coastal forests, which are conserved by different means, community customs for groves and statutory protection for mangroves. Previous topic: Ramsar Wetland Sites and Natural World Heritage Sites in India. Next topic: Key Activities and Associated Air Pollutants.

What Are Sacred Groves and Where Are They Found?

Name or place	Details
Kavu	Kerala; many linked to snake worship, called sarpa kavu
Devrai or devrahati	Maharashtra
Devarakadu	Karnataka; Kodagu has many
Orans	Rajasthan; protected by village customs and used for grazing under rules
Sarna or jaherthan	Jharkhand and neighbouring tribal areas
Law kyntang	Meghalaya; Mawphlang is a famous example
Dev van	Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand

What Are the Main Mangrove Sites?

Sundarbans: West Bengal; largest mangrove forest in the world, shared with Bangladesh
Bhitarkanika: Odisha; saltwater crocodiles and Olive Ridley nesting nearby
Pichavaram: Tamil Nadu; one of the largest mangrove wetlands in India
Muthupet: Tamil Nadu
Godavari and Krishna deltas: Andhra Pradesh; Coringa wildlife sanctuary
Gujarat coast: Kachchh and Gulf of Khambhat; Gujarat has the second highest cover
Andaman and Nicobar: third highest cover among states and territories
Goa and Maharashtra: smaller patches near estuaries

What Else Should You Remember?

Sacred grove value: conserve species, soil, water and cultural heritage
Taboos: rules against cutting, hunting and collecting
Threats: land use change, loss of belief, mining, roads and invasive plants
Management: usually by the community or a temple trust
Number: estimates range from tens of thousands to over 100,000, so treat as approximate
Legal tools: community reserves, conservation reserves, biodiversity heritage sites
Biodiversity heritage site: notified by the state under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002
Community reserve: introduced into the Wildlife Act by the 2002 amendment
Biodiversity Management Committees: local bodies that can protect groves
Forest Rights Act: recognises community forest resource rights
Mangrove ecosystem: trees with pneumatophores and stilt roots
Mangrove functions: coastal protection, fish nurseries, carbon storage
Blue carbon: mangroves store large amounts of carbon in soil
Mangrove species: Rhizophora, Avicennia and Sonneratia are examples
Sundarbans species: Heritiera fomes, called sundari, gave the name
Regulation: mangroves are mostly in Coastal Regulation Zone I under CRZ rules
MISHTI: Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes, announced in 2023
Threats to mangroves: aquaculture, reclamation, pollution, sea level rise and tree cutting
India State of Forest Report: Forest Survey of India publishes cover every two years
Mangrove cover trend: about 0.15 percent of area; small changes between reports
International day: 26 July is International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem
Link to previous: see Ramsar Wetland Sites and Natural World Heritage Sites in India
Link to next: see Key Activities and Associated Air Pollutants
Link to mangroves: see Mangroves: Definition, Distribution in India, Importance and Threats
Caution: counts and areas change, so check ISFR
Exam hint: remember local names, West Bengal, Gujarat and the legal tools
Cultural meaning: Groves are linked with local deities, ancestors or spirits, and offerings are made on festival days
Water sources: Many groves hold springs or ponds that supply nearby villages, giving a practical reason to protect them
Medicinal plants: Local healers use plants collected from groves under customary rules
Orans use: Some orans allow limited grazing and collection of dead wood while banning tree felling
Documentation: Surveys by forest departments, universities and the Ministry have recorded groves state by state
Mangrove regeneration: Community-led planting and restoring tidal flow have worked better than planting alone
Coastal protection: Mangrove belts reduce wave energy during cyclones, as seen along parts of the east coast
Climate link: Loss of mangroves releases stored carbon and removes a buffer against sea level rise

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Grove: Community forest patch
Local names: Kavu, orans, law kyntang
Mangroves: West Bengal highest
Current affairs link: MISHTI
Common errors: treating all groves as legally protected

As an analytical point, sacred groves show that cultural beliefs can protect biodiversity, but modern pressures and weak legal status put them at risk. Mangroves have statutory protection yet face conversion on the coast.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Groves Belief-based
Mangroves Coastal
Gap Law and use

What Came Next?

The next topic covers key activities and the air pollutants associated with them. Next topic: Key Activities and Associated Air Pollutants.

Key People and Terms

Sacred grove Protected forest patch
Kavu Kerala grove
Orans Rajasthan grove
BHS Biodiversity heritage site
Mangrove Salt-tolerant coastal forest
Blue carbon Coastal carbon stock

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Kerala: kavu.
Rajasthan: orans.
Meghalaya: law kyntang.
Mangroves: about 0.15 percent.
Top state: West Bengal.

Do Not Confuse With

Sacred grove and community reserve Custom versus legal category
Mangrove and swamp forest Salt versus freshwater
Sundarbans and Bhitarkanika West Bengal versus Odisha

Memory Hook

Kavu, orans, law kyntang guard; Sundarbans leads the mangrove yard.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for local names, states and legal tools. These points help.

Groves Custom
Mangroves Coast
Law Tools

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“What are sacred groves? How can they and mangrove forests be conserved in India?”

How to Answer

Groves Custom.
Mangroves Coast.
Law Tools.
Threats Pressure.

GS Relevance

Prelims: local names, examples, mangrove states. GS Paper 3: community conservation and coastal ecosystems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are sacred groves?

Sacred groves are patches of forest protected by local communities because of religious beliefs and customs. Cutting trees, hunting and grazing are usually prohibited. They conserve old-growth forest, rare species and water sources and are found across India, with local names like kavu in Kerala, orans in Rajasthan and law kyntang in Meghalaya.

How are sacred groves legally protected?

Many groves are protected only by custom, but some lie inside forests or protected areas. They can be given legal status as community reserves or conservation reserves under the Wildlife Protection Act, or notified as biodiversity heritage sites under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, with local bodies managing them.

How much mangrove cover does India have?

India's mangrove cover is about 4,990 square kilometres, around 0.15 percent of the country's area, according to recent India State of Forest Reports, which are published every two years. West Bengal has the largest share, followed by Gujarat and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Why are mangroves important?

Mangroves protect coasts from storms and erosion, serve as nurseries for fish and prawns, filter pollutants and store large amounts of carbon in their soils, called blue carbon. They also support livelihoods and rich biodiversity, such as the Bengal tiger in the Sundarbans and crocodiles in Bhitarkanika.

What is the MISHTI scheme?

MISHTI stands for Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes, announced in the Union Budget 2023-24. It promotes mangrove plantation along the coast and on salt pans, using funds from schemes like MGNREGS and CAMPA, with a focus on community participation. Details should be checked on the ministry website.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 Kavu is the name of a sacred grove in Kerala.

True

Often snake groves.

2 India has the world's largest mangrove forest.

False

The Sundarbans is shared with Bangladesh.

3 Sacred groves are always legally protected.