World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

PERCEPTIONS OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES TOWARDS SACRED FORESTS IN PITHORAGARH DISTRICT OF KUMAUN HIMALAYA, INDIA

Brij M. Upreti*, Naveen Chandra Pandey and Lalit M. Tewari

ABSTRACT

„Sacred? has different meanings to different communities. At the basic level it denotes deep respect and „set aside? for purposes of the spiritual or religious. The key challenges for the future will be deciding how to protect these natural places which are often influenced by strong belief system, linked closely to rituals, stories and legends of local communities. Survey was conducted to achieve authentic information, an extensive dialogue with the inhabitants of Villages around six sacred forests. Observations shows that the in-built mechanism in SF of Pithoragarh, their social and cultural tradition have made them thrifty on over exploitation and contributed towards protection of the forests. Rules related to sacred forests were also made by ancestors; these rules are still believed and followed by local inhabitants of villages near sacred forests in Pithoragarh. The challenges for the future will be deciding how to protect these natural places which are often influenced by strong belief system.

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