ISSN: 3048-7250 
Anil Kumar*, Research Scholar, Department of Energy and Environment, MGCGV, Chitrakoot (M.P.) 485334
Sadhna Chaurasia**, Associate Professor, Department of Energy and Environment, MGCGV, Chitrakoot (M.P.) 485334
Digdarshika Rani***, Research Scholar, Department of Energy and Environment, MGCGV, Chitrakoot (M.P.) 485334
ई–मेल: *anilkumar951917@gmail.com,**sadhanamgcgv@gmail.com,***digdarshikadubey@gmail.com
Abstract:
Sacred forests are areas of virgin forest with rich diversity, which have been preserved by the local people for centuries because of their cultural and religious beliefs and taboos that deities reside in them and protect the villagers from various disasters. Each sacred grove has its own legends, tales and myths which are an integral part of the sacred grove. An unbreakable link between present society and the past in terms of biodiversity, culture, religious and ethnic heritage exists in the sacred groves. Sacred groves are spread around the world, and diverse cultures recognize them in different ways and have different rules to protect them. Sacred groves are found in many parts of India such as the Western Ghats, Central India, Northeast India, etc., especially where indigenous communities live. These are known by different names given by the ethnic people. Sacred groves serve as an ideal center for biodiversity conservation. Many endangered plants in the forest are still well preserved in some sacred groves. It has been observed that many medicinal plants which are not found in the wild are in abundance in the sacred forests. Furthermore, rare, endangered, threatened and endemic species are often concentrated in sacred forests. Sacredness, religious beliefs and taboos play an important role in promoting sustainable use and conservation of the flora of the region. However, with the passage of time, there have been considerable changes in the extent of sacred forests, their vegetation structure, people’s perception of them, and religious beliefs and taboos. Therefore, a holistic understanding of the present status, structure and function of sacred forests is essential to assess their ecological role and formulate strategies for their conservation.
This research article is mainly based on the diversity of trees present in the Kamadgiri sacred forest. Various species of trees are found in the Kamadgiri mountain present in the penance place of Shri Ram. Majorly 5 types of tree species have been identified during the study. Chitrakoot is one of the famous pilgrimage centers of Hindus in India and is surrounded by the lush green hills of the legendary Vindhyachal mountain range. Chitrakoot is also known for its beautiful mountain ranges, historical caves, perennial waterfalls and diverse flora and fauna. Therefore, Chitrakoot has been a sacred place of worship for sages since ancient times. There is abundance of trees in the upper part of the mountain whereas their number is less in the lower part. And both types of trees (small and big) were found in the middle reaches of the valley. In the mountain, the frequency of Anogenysus pendula was found to be highest and the frequency of Ficus racemosa was found to be the lowest.
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