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National
Work shop on Sacred Groves conducted at Kerala
A
three day national wokshop on Conservation of Sacred Groves
was held at Hotel Malabar Palace, Kozhikode from 16 -
18 September 2004. The workshop was organized by Department
of Forests, Govt. of Kerala in association with Ministry
of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India and OISCA International,
South India Chapter.
The
Sacred groves locally known as 'Kavus' in Kerala are owned
by individuals/Joint families/Devaswom Board/Tribal communities/Trustees
etc. Presently about 1000 Kavus are available in Kerala
and their extent varies from 0.02 to 20 ha. These are
under severe threat of degradation and therefore need
urgent conservation measures.
In
Kerala, Kavu, the unique eco-system had been conserved
from time immemorial because of its religious and divine
status attributed to them by the local communities. This
religious eco-system once supported luxuriant evergreen
vegetation has dwindled tremendously due to various socio-economic
problems. It is therefore felt very essential to conserve
this special habitat with participatory approach.
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Mayor Tottathil Ravindran
Inaugurating the workshop
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Delegates Visiting Vallikkattukavu
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The
workshop was inaugurated on 16th September by Sri. Thottathil
Raveendran, Mayor, Kozhikode Corporation at Hotel Malabar
Palace, Kozhikode. Smt. M.K.Nalini, President, District
Panchayath presided over the inaugural function.
On the
first day, three technical sessions were held and 12 papers
were presented besides the talks made by NGOs and Kavu
owners. The first session was on "Current status,
bio-diversity, economic and ecological values of sacred
groves" chaired by Dr. K. Madhavan Kutty. Sri Ashok
Sharma, Chief Conservator of Forests, Maharashtra, presented
the paper on sacred groves of that State. He informed
that the sacred groves are facing severe threats due to
absence of legal provisions for protection. Dr. Subash
Chandran of EMPRI, Bangalore spoke on 'Sacred groves of
Western Ghats- Need for re-appraisal and restoration'
and explained in detail the condition of sacred groves
in Karnataka. He emphasized the need for bringing the
sacred groves under "Heritage centers" under
the provisions of Environmental Protection Act. Smt. Geetha
Nair of Kesari College, Ernakulam presented paper on sacred
groves - National model for biodiversity management, based
on her study of various sacred groves of North Parur Taluk
of Ernakulam District. She highlighted the threat posed
by weeds, anthropogenic activities etc. and emphasised
on nature worship than idol worship. Dr.C.N.Mohanan, CESS,
Thiruvananthapuram while presenting his paper on sacred
groves of Kerala suggested survey of all sacred groves
and documentation of the biodiversity using people's participation.
He explained the need for Panchayath level committees
for protection. Smt. Suprava Patnaik of IIFM, Bhopal narrated
the protective and productive functions of sacred groves.
She suggested that the sacred groves can be rehabilitated
through public awareness, role of NGOs, training and capacity
building etc. Dr. Kannan C.S Warrier of TBGRI, Coimbatore
observed that the sacred groves are protected by people
due to fear of the deity. Dr. Jaffer Palott, Zoological
Survey of India explained his findings on the rare and
endangered species of butterflies in Kavus. Sri. Nalinakshan
of OISCA narrated the result of their study at a Kavu
near Kozhikode under the Participatory Conservation Programme
of Kerala Forest Department. Dr. Ravi Prasad Rao of Andhra
Pradesh based on his paper explained about the management
and plant conservation of a sacred grove at Rayalaseema
Region of Andhra Pradesh. Dr. S.E. Jena, Principal Chief
Conservator of forests, Chattisgarh stressed the importance
of sacred groves in nature and their role in soil conservation.
He opined that sacred groves are the meeting point of
socio-cultural life and that it offers a source of environmental
awareness. Dr. Oliver King, MSSR Foundation, Chennai spoke
on "the role of sacred groves in biodiversity conservation
- options in Tamil Nadu". He explained the beliefs
and taboos of tribes in respect of sacred groves. Dr.
Ragavendra of College of Forestry, Ponnampet, Kodagu spoke
on different vegetation types and species in sacred groves.
He explained the population status of some endangered
species.
The
second Technical session. was on 'Techniques of conservation
of biodiversity in sacred groves'. The session was chaired
by Dr. S. Chand Basha PCCF (Rtd). Sarvashree P.Ku,ttyKrishnan,
K.P Sadanandan, Kunhirama Poduval, Baskara Pannikker,
Sasidharan Pillai and Dr P.R.G Mathur presented their
views on the importance of conserving sacred groves. The
kavu owners in general demanded financial assistance from
Kerala forest Department for fencing and augmenting the
degraded sacred groves.
The
third technical session was on 'Experience, Expectations
and Demands of stakeholders namely the owners of the kavu,
local committees, NGOs etc. The session was chaired by
Sri S.C Joshi, CCF, Social Forestry, Kerala. The following
persons presented papers and spoke on the occasion. Sarvasree
Kunhambu Nair, Vishnu Das, Vijayan, President BIOSK, Karayil
Sukumaran, Radhakrishnan Nair SPEK, K.K John, Prashanta
Kumar OISCA etc highlighted the need for conserving the
fragile ecosystem with a participatory approach necessarily
to be funded by the KFD. They also urged the need to take
initiative by the Department to frame necessary legislation
and formulate strategies for effective protection and
conservation of sacred groves.
The
second day (17-9-2004) of the workshop was earmarked for
deliberations on 'Traditional Cultural and Spiritual Practices
and its importance for Sacred Grove Conservation".
Session was chaired by Sri P.K. Surendranathan Asari,
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Kerala. Swami
Gnanamrithanandapuri of Amritha Asram, Kollam spoke on
the benevolence of Mother Nature. Swami Avyayananda talked
on the spiritual aspects of sacred groves. Dr. Suvarna
Nalappatt detailed on how the Vedas are linked with nature
and of the spiritual and scientific co-relation. Sarvashri
T.K Farooque and T.M Varghese explained on the religious
and spiritual aspects of conservation of nature with respect
to Quran and Bible respectively. Sri T.P Padmanabhan Master,
President SEEK, Dr N Sankaran and Sri KV Divakaran OFFCO
highlighted the importance of spiritual and cultural aspects
on the conservation of sacred groves. Sree Unnikrishnan
made a beautiful presentation with a video show on the
ecofolklore aspect of the sacred groves in Northern Kerala.
In
the afternoon the delegates visited two Kavus namely Vallikkattu
kavu and Poilkavu in Kozhikodu District. The representative
of the respective kavus made a brief presentation on the
ecological and spiritual aspects of the Kavus. Vallikkattu
Kavu is the biggest of the sacred groves in Kozhikode
revenue district with an extent of 6.5 Ha. The Grove is
believed to be over 5000 years old. Goddess Durga is deity
here. There is no temple building as such. The water in
the perennial stream flowing through the grove is held
'holy'. There is a big population of Bonnet macaques,
supposed to be the guardians of the grove. Fauna include
Jackal, Tortoise, Snakes, Amphibians and birds. Flora
here is the example typical semi-evergreen forest with
rare species. The Kavu is Under the management of H.R.
and C.E (Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment), a
State Government establishment.
Poil
Kavu belongs to joint ownership
of 9 ancestral families. There are two temples here -
One east and the other west. The religious rituals are
conducted in the Eastern bit. The sacred grove is around
the western kavu. This is also typical semi evergreen
patch 40Ha.
At Poilkavu, the delegates experienced different forms
of Theyyam, a ritual art form of Northern Kerala.
Third
day session on 'Policy options, Strategies and Action
Plans was chaired by
Sri Ashok Sharma. Eight papers were presented by the following
speakers
Dr S. Chand Basha, Dr K.G. Uthappa, Dr. Yogesh Ghokale,
Dr. U.M Chandrashekhara, Dr P.N Unni, Dr N.C. Induchoodan,
Dr. N. Anil Kumar and Dr P.R.G Mathur. The main suggestions
put forwarded by the speakers are the following:
- Conducting Awareness programmes
- Preparation of micro plans
for the management of each kavu
- Provide incentives like awards
and financial reward
- Provide financial and legal
support from KFD
- Formation of Local Management
Committee for protection
- Formulation of policies
- Inventory and documentation
of kavus through Social Forestry wing of the
KFD.
- Capacity building of managers
of the Kavu
- Purchase and take over of
the area by giving compensatio
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After
the technical session, the participants divided into five
groups to initiate a panel discussion with a group leader
leading each session. The recommendations proposed, by
each group were later presented by the group leaders.
The following recommendations were finalized
| 1 :
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As part of the State
support or government agency the Kerala Forest (KFD),
particularly the Social Forestry (SF) wing should
be the nodal agency for conservation and management
of sacred groves in Kerala. |
| 2 :
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The SF wing of the KFD
should undertake the extension and awareness activities
related to sacred grove conservation and management.
Such activities should aim at
- Promoting
conservation of sacred groves,
- Appreciate
and encourage the conservation efforts
made by the communities, and
- Remove the doubts
in the minds of communities regarding
losing the control over sacred grove management,
and other direct and indirect socia-cultural
and economic benefits hither to available
to them.
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| 3 :
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If agreeable by the owner/management
the Social Forestry Wing should survey and wherever
possible demarcate the boundary of each sacred grove.
The minimum size of the sacred grove considered
for survey and demarcation should not be less than
3 cents. |
| 4 : |
After the survey, office
of the Chief +Conservator of Forests, Social Forestry
may give a registration number to the concerned
Kavu. |
| 5 : |
The so registered sacred
groves shall be given a one time incentive based
on certain criteria to be decided by a committee
constituted for this purpose which should include
representative of stake holders and government officials
and one among them should be Chief Conservator of
Forests, Social Forestry. |
| 6 : |
The panchayats are having
the responsibility of protecting and conserving
the environment and special habitats falling under
their jurisdictions. Therefore as part of this responsibility
of local self Government (LSG), it shall be made
mandatory on the part of LSG to contribute necessary
funds to kavu and other special habitat conservation
and protection schemes initiated by the designated
nodal agency. |
| 7 : |
All the conservation
efforts of the kavus should be based on the joint
management or participatory approach. |
| 8 : |
It is recommended that
for all the joint management or co-operative management
programmes for conservation and restoration of sacred
groves involving Forest Department (Social Forestry),
the nodal agency (Social Forestry Wing) should provide
technical know how. As part of the advise or actual
implementation strategy, exotic species should never
be suggested either for augmentation or conservation
means. |
| 9 : |
For designing any strategy
of conservation a multidisciplinary team should
be constituted to study the specific issues of each
distinct kavu and formulate necessary project/plan
for it |
| 10 : |
Broadly any plan/ project
for conservation should interalia include issues
related to identifying and respecting historical,
spiritual and local beliefs also along with ecological,
economic, biological values. |
| 11 : |
To prevent retrogression,
the land area around the groves may be purchased
by the Government for protection and enriching activities
in the grove, if available and agreed by the kavu
management and concemed stakeholders. |
| 12
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A State level
monitoring committee should be instituted to monitor
the conservation of sacred groves (and mangroves)
with the chairmanship of the Chief Conservator of
Forests (Social Forestry) with members drawn from
research institutions, academic institutions, NGOs,
LSG officials and stakeholders groups. |
| 13
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District
wise Kavu Mitra Award and other incentives shall
be given as per demand of concerned management committees.
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| 14
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September
18th - Kavu Dinam -and release a Stamp to commemorate
this day. |
| 15
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Donation to
sacred grove to be tax exempted. |
| 16 : |
If the present
management is willing to hand over, those Kavu should
be acquired. |
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