Cultural drivers of reforestation in tropical forest groves of the Western Ghats of India

摘要: Sacred forest groves in the Western Ghats of India are small fragments tropical that have received protection due to religious beliefs and cultural practices. These an example community-based conservation they serve as refugia for many forest-dwelling species otherwise highly anthropogenic forest-agriculture landscapes Indian Ghats. Many these sacred considered ancient woodlands, but there is very little information on their origins. For instance: How old groves? Are relics was once continuous or patches regenerated vegetation? do changes surrounding landscape influence vegetation Based palaeoecological reconstruction two such groves, we determined age fragments. Both reconstructions indicate transition from non-forest open tree-covered at sites. finding challenge common perception remnants once-continuous forest; instead, some those studied might be approximately 400 years old. This further raises a number questions about drivers reforestation groves. What were social circumstances which led recovery within patches? did land tenure recovery? role play restoration? Using Wallace’s (1956) framework ‘cultural revitalization’ based historical literature analysis this paper examines India. It suggests various social, ecological economic revitalization, recognizing strong linkages between ‘social’ ‘ecological’ social–ecological system contemporary restoration forests needs operate scale look intervention management.