Q. Consider the following statements:
1.Sacred groves act as biodiversity hotspots.
2.In India, sacred groves are recognized under the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002.
3.In India, the deccan plateau is known for their extensive sacred groves.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
Explanations –
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Sacred groves are biodiversity-rich areas that act as reservoirs of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna. They serve as important centers for biodiversity conservation, often preserving species that have disappeared from surrounding areas due to habitat destruction. Sacred groves are legally recognized as community reserves under the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002, which provides government protection to areas managed by local communities for conservation purposes.
Statement 3 is incorrect. While sacred groves exist in parts of the Deccan Plateau, they are not extensively found there compared to regions like the Western Ghats, Northeast India, and Central India, which are particularly rich in sacred groves.
Source: The Hindu
