Sacred Groves of Ziro Valley Dominated by Apatani Tribes in Arunachal Pradesh

Abstract

Sacred groves (locally known as ranthii) protected by the unique ethnic society of the Apatanis in Arunachal Pradesh are based on traditional, cultural and religious beliefs. These sacred groves are reservoirs of culturally valued species representing relict biodiversity rich ecosystem and are valuable for environment conservation. Sacred species (Prunus persica) noticed near the household dwellings assist the onset of the Myoko festival as well as in preparing a platform for executing rituals during the festival. Imparting awareness about the intangible benefits and ecosystem balance provided by the groves to the common man and its utmost significance related to forest ecosystem dynamics and management, protection from excessive human activities, fires, limited extraction of products from these groves, likewise judicious blending of the traditional belief system along with scientific knowledge of modern forest management practices would aid in sustainable ecological conservation.