Vol. 6, Issue 9 (2017)

Author(s):
V Manjula and Dr. T Selvin Jebaraj Norman

Abstract:
India has a wide spectrum of biomes such as shola forests, tropical rain forests, temperate forests, coastal wetlands, alpine vegetation and mangrove forests. Indigenous communities gave importance in conservation of such ecosystems. Majority of the flora are endemic. Such species are protected by cultural values and high religious importance is given. Religiously they are sacred and periodic spiritual celebrations are conducted to the deities by the local indigenous people with great belief. These places are known as sacred grooves and most of the plant species here have medicinal value. In this article the importance of such sacred groves situated in the revered Holy Velliangiri Hills of Western Ghats a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere are discussed.