Sacred groves key to biodiversity conservation, study says

Sacred groves continue to play a vital role in conserving biodiversity and sustaining ecological processes even though they are spatially isolated from the Western Ghats, according to a new study by scientists at the Central University of Kerala (CUK).

A study published in the Journal of Applied Ecology found that these community-protected forest fragments support significantly higher predator activity than the surrounding human-managed multistory plantations, highlighting their importance in maintaining ecosystem functions such as natural protection against pests.

The research was led by Palatty Allesh Sinu of the University’s Ecology Lab along with Bhavya Lakshmi, PV Athira, Anju Aravindakshan, Varsha Manohar Pattar and Gopika Viswan.

Mr Sinu said the team investigated how habitat type and distance from the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot affected predator-prey interactions.

Researchers used plasticine caterpillar models and dead mealworms as sentinel prey in Kasaragod district for two years to monitor predation rates.

The study found that overall predation was consistently higher in sacred groves than in plantations. Arthropods, mainly ants, were the dominant predators, accounting for 57% to 61% of predation in both flights and habitats. Birds were the second most important predator group, accounting for 22% to 35% of total predation.

“Despite their small size, sacred groves function as vital biodiversity reserves and provide key ecosystem services such as natural protection against pests,” Mr Sinu said.

He added that Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra have the largest number of these sacred green islets that require policy interventions based on indigenous conservation models.

The researchers emphasized that protecting these traditional forest relics is essential to improving the ecological quality of human-modified landscapes and preserving wildlife corridors.

Published – 04 Jul 2026 23:22 IST