Sacred natural sites classification framework based on ecosystem services and implications for conservation

Abstract

Sacred natural sites (SNSs) are examples of community‐level governance for sustainable management of natural resources, which can greatly benefit nature conservation. However, the lack of a comprehensive understanding of the role of SNSs in conservation has resulted in overly simplistic classifications of SNSs that challenge current SNS research and conservation practice. Here, we propose an SNS classification framework based on the types and levels of material and spiritual services that SNSs provide, and applied this framework in the Khawa Karpo, an important sacred area in the Tibetan region of China based on detailed field surveys conducted from 2000 to 2004 and 2015 to 2017 that addressed six types of SNSs, including sacred mountains, Ri Vgags, sacred lakes, sacred rocks, sacred caves, and sacred trees. We found that SNSs in this region played a crucial role in sustaining traditional cultures and providing material services. Adoption of our classification framework will assist with the development of management strategies and targeted conservation actions for individual SNSs, thus improving conservation levels particularly in the Tibetan region.

Sacred forest biodiversity conservation: A meta‐analysis

“…These results highlight the importance of non‐plant taxa in sacred forests and emphasize the importance of monitoring non‐plant biodiversity that maintains the ecological function of forests. A better understanding of the cultural uses of sacred forests (Zannini et al, 2021; Ma et al 2022) and what activities are allowed and prohibited would help to better understand the variable impacts that sacred forests have on different taxa.…”

“…Third, given the importance of sacred forests for local communities, they can successfully maintain their biodiversity for a long time, as the cultural value of the forest can outlast one human generation (Manna and Roy, 2021). Fourth, sacred forests protect important ecosystem services and functions, such as protecting medicinal plants (Mgumia and Oba, 2003; Bhagwat et al, 2005a; Ma et al, 2022), ensuring landscape connectivity as wildlife corridors or buffer zones for protected areas (Ishii et al, 2010), facilitating seed dispersal and pollination (Rajasri et al, 2017), providing erosion control and protecting water resources (Ma et al, 2022), and mitigating some negative effects of climate change by providing temperature control (Rawat, 2014) and carbon storage (Waikhom et al, 2018; Devi et al, 2021). Finally, despite their small size, sacred forests can play a crucial role in a land‐use matrix: overlooking this role would be a missed opportunity (Bhagwat et al, 2005b; Dudley et al, 2010; Marks et al, 2020).…”

“…For example, sacred forests can provide important resources: firewood, medicinal or ceremonial plants, and nontimber forest products (e.g., fruits and seeds). Additionally, sacred forests act as a setting for spiritual, religious, and cultural activities such as prayer, ceremony, and connecting with ancestors (Lynch et al, 2018; Ma et al, 2022). However, it is not clear what the quantitative impact a sacred status and associated forest management has on biodiversity, compared to forests without a sacred status.…”

Biodiversity Conservation in Xishuangbanna, China: Diversity Analysis of Traditional Knowledge Related to Biodiversity and Conservation Progress, Achievements Evaluation

“…It has important practical significance in greatly expanding the protected area of land and sea, filling the protection gap, and advocating the participation of local residents in protection [47]. Some sacred mountains and holy places in Xishuangbanna have rich biodiversity and are mainly managed and maintained by community residents [48,49]. For example, the Long Mountain of the Bulang people in Xishuangbanna is a sacred mountain, which can be divided into grave mountains, water source forests, scenic forests, etc.…”

Biodiversity Conservation in Xishuangbanna, China: Diversity Analysis of Traditional Knowledge Related to Biodiversity and Conservation Progress and Achievement Evaluation

“…It has important practical significance in greatly expanding the protected area of land and sea, filling the protection gap, and advocating the par-ticipation of local residents in protection [47]. Some sacred mountains and holy places in Xishuangbanna have rich biodiversity and are mainly managed and maintained by community residents [48,49]. For example, the Long Mountain of the Bulang people in Xishuangbanna is a sacred mountain (Figure 2).…”