Urban sacred grove forests are potential carbon stores: A case study from Sikkim Himalaya

Devi, N. Bijayalaxmi; Lepcha, Nima Tshering; Mahalik, Siddarth S.; Dutta, Denish; Tsanglao, Benrithung L.

doi:10.1016/j.envc.2021.100072

Cited by 18 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…The big size and longevity of these veteran trees give them a lasting presence in the landscape as living artefacts of local history and culture [17,25]. The tall trees in sacred natural sites not only help to protect the soil and water but also help in storing carbon, particularly in urban areas [26]. In addition, these sites shelter a wide diversity of insects, macro-fungi, birds, mammals and other forest-dwelling animals as compared to the surrounding areas [24,[27][28][29].…”

Section: Understanding Sacred Natural Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Conflict between Preserving a ‘Sacred Natural Site’ and Exploiting Nature for Commercial Gain: Evidence from Phiphidi Waterfall in South Africa

2021

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Over the years, the Phiphidi sacred natural site has been protected by traditional methods or cultural codes. However, over the past three decades, anthropogenic pressures have affected the site. This study aimed to investigate the historical uses of the Phiphidi sacred natural site and contemporary anthropogenic threats to the area, and the implications on the sustainability of the area. The data supporting this study were collected between June 2018 and May 2021, during which (i) interviews, (ii) observations and (iii) documents were used as the main techniques of data collection. Non-probabilistic purposive (also known as judgemental) sampling was used to select respondents including the custodians of the Phiphidi sacred natural site, officials working at Phiphidi Waterfall, representatives of the Dzomo La Mupo committee and local communities. The data obtained from interviews were analysed using thematic content analysis. Field observations helped in validating the data that were collected through interviews. The study showed that although the sacred site was historically a ‘no go area’ and was used to connect with ancestors and perform rituals, contemporary anthropogenic threats affecting the Phiphidi sacred site include weak property right systems and tourism infrastructure development that has led to land-use conflicts that have been driven by vested interests. The contemporary practices not only undermine the Vhavenda culture but also have negative implications for the biodiversity of the area. In addition, the current practices undermine the founding principles of the 1996 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa; these embrace culture, religion and the country’s environmental laws. While passion to save the sacred sites by custodians and local communities is still alive, government support is weak and, as a result, there are fears that other sacred sites in the region may also be targeted for tourism purposes. Several suggestions are made that, if implemented, could help to protect the remaining sacred natural sites.

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Section: Understanding Sacred Natural Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Conflict between Preserving a ‘Sacred Natural Site’ and Exploiting Nature for Commercial Gain: Evidence from Phiphidi Waterfall in South Africa

2021

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“…In the current context of global change and its tangible effects, as long as the biodiversity, the vegetation structure and the ecological setup in such high-value ecosystems remain intact, the buffering potential for the adjoining area to weather extremities is likely to be higher, and the loss is minimal. However, human settlement and land use practices, which invariably naturalize several non-native plants and animals, gradually lead to the loss of endemic biota and the transformation of such native ecosystems 4 , 5 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of carbon fluxes, stock and nutrients in the sacred forest groves and invasive vegetation stands within the human dominated landscapes of a tropical semi-arid region

Akil Prasath,

Mohanraj,

Balaramdas

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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In the semi-arid plains of Southern India, outside the protected area network, sacred groves forests and the barren lands invaded by Prosopis juliflora are reckoned to be the major greenery, but have homogenous and heterogeneous vegetation respectively. This study attempted to compare 50 Sacred Groves Stands (SGS) and 50 monodominant Prosopis juliflora Stands (PJS) for the functional diversity, evenness, floral diversity, carbon stock and dynamics, carbon-fixing traits, dendrochronology of trees, soil nutrient profiles, and soil erosion. Quadrat sample survey was adopted to record stand density, species richness, abundance, basal area and leaf area index; composite soil samples were collected at depths 0–30 cm for nutrient profiling (N, P, K, and OC). Photosynthesis rate (µmole co2 m2/sec), air temperature (°c), leaf intracellular co2 concentration (ppm), ambient photosynthetic active radiation (µmole m2/sec), transpiration rate (m. mole H2O m2/sec) were determined for the 51 tree species existed in SGS and PJS using Plant Photosynthesis system. Structural Equation Model (SEM) was applied to derive the carbon sequestering potential and photosynthetic efficiency of eight dominant tree species using vital input parameters, including eco-physiological, morphological, and biochemical characterization. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model, in conjunction with ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS 10.3, was adopted to map soil loss. Carbon source/sink determinations inferred through Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) assessments showed that mature SGS potentially acted as a carbon sink (0.06 ± 0.01 g C/m2/day), while matured PJS acted as a carbon source (−0.34 ± 0.12 g C/m2/day). Soil erosion rates were significantly greater (29.5 ± 13.4 ton/ha/year) in SGS compared to PJS (7.52 ± 2.55 ton/ha/year). Of the eight selected tree species, SEM revealed that trees belonging to the family Fabaceae [Wrightia tinctoria (estimated coefficient: 1.28, p = 0.02) > Prosopis juliflora (1.22, p = 0.01) > Acacia nilotica (1.21, p = 0.03) > Albizia lebbeck (0.97, p = 0.01)] showed comparatively high carbon sequestering ability.

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“…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).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sacred forest biodiversity conservation: A meta‐analysis

Sullivan,

Browne,

Penagos Zuluaga

et al. 2023

Conservat Sci and Prac

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Sacred forests offer co‐benefits of protecting both cultural traditions and forested areas. However, sacred forests' contribution to biodiversity conservation is often undervalued. Several reviews discuss biodiversity conservation in sacred forests, but large‐scale studies that quantify the effect of sacred forests on biodiversity conservation are scarce. Many studies on the effectiveness of sacred forests in protecting biodiversity are limited to single‐location censuses or lack comparisons against non‐sacred forests that serve as controls. To quantify the impact of sacred forests on biodiversity conservation, we conducted a global meta‐analysis that compares sacred forests with nearby non‐sacred forests (i.e., control areas). Using 35 studies from 17 different countries, we found that sacred forests harbored similar levels of biodiversity as nearby forested areas. When comparing taxonomic groups, we found that the positive benefits to biodiversity in sacred forests compared to non‐sacred forests were higher for plants compared to non‐plant taxa. Our meta‐analysis provides quantitative evidence that sacred forests can be effective areas of biodiversity conservation. Based on our results, we suggest that researchers interested in sacred forest biodiversity compare sacred forests with other land use types, collect standardized metadata from sacred forests and nearby areas that serve as comparisons, and extend monitoring to include more non‐plant taxa. Sacred forests can preserve ecosystem function, provide social benefits, and play a role in fighting against climate change, and should not be overlooked.

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Urban sacred grove forests are potential carbon stores: A case study from Sikkim Himalaya

Cited by 18 publications

References 54 publications

The Conflict between Preserving a ‘Sacred Natural Site’ and Exploiting Nature for Commercial Gain: Evidence from Phiphidi Waterfall in South Africa

The Conflict between Preserving a ‘Sacred Natural Site’ and Exploiting Nature for Commercial Gain: Evidence from Phiphidi Waterfall in South Africa

Characterization of carbon fluxes, stock and nutrients in the sacred forest groves and invasive vegetation stands within the human dominated landscapes of a tropical semi-arid region

Sacred forest biodiversity conservation: A meta‐analysis

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