ABSTRACT
Understanding the cultural beliefs and practices of Indigenous people associated with management of natural resources not only helps in preserving their cultural beliefs but also in formulating appropriate policies for management. The objective of this study was to document the cultural ecosystem services revealed through belief systems associated with ten selected sacred groves in the Kandhamal district in Odisha, a heavily forested state in eastern India and the homelands of the Kandha peoples. Of all the states in India, Odisha presents an interesting landscape in which to study sacred groves. With 37% of its land under forest cover, the state is home to 62 ethnic tribes, and there are about 2,000 small sacred groves distributed mostly in tribal districts of the state. Our research documented the sizes, cultural traditions, management, and challenges facing ten study site sacred groves. Understanding the cultural ecosystem services associated with such groves is crucial in formulating strategies to preserve them in the long run.
