BIODIVERSITY VALUE, STATUS, AND STRATEGIES FOR CONSERVATION OF SACREDGROVES OF MEGHALAYA, INDIA

The tribal communities of Meghalaya in northeast India-Khasis, Garos, and Jaintias-have a tradition of environmental conservation based on v arious religious beliefs which have been passed on from one generation to the other. Based on these beliefs, certain patches of forests are designated as sacred groves under customary law and are protected from any product extraction by the community. Such forests are very rich i n biological diversity and harbor many endangered plant species includ ing rare herbs and medicinal plants. Seventy-nine sacred groves were l ocated, denoted on a geographical map of Meghalaya, and studied for th eir biodiversity value, status, and vegetation characteristics. A base line floristic survey revealed that at least 514 species representing 340 genera and 131 families were present in these sacred groves. The s tatus of sacred groves was ascertained through canopy cover estimate. A little over 1.3% of total sacred grove area was undisturbed, 42.1% h ad relatively dense forest, 26.3% had sparse canopy cover, and 30.3% h ad open forest. The vegetation characteristics and species diversity o f an undisturbed sacred grove were compared with that of an unprotecte d disturbed forest. The species diversity indices were higher for the sacred grove than for the disturbed forest. The species composition an d community characteristics differed significantly between the two for ests. Sociocultural aspects of sacred grove conservation were analyzed , and views of the local people were enlisted. Based on the findings, conservation strategies for sacred groves were suggested.