Sociocultural heritage of India: a review of studies of the sacred groves of Kerala

Sacred groves range in size from a single tree to large intact forest areas containing deities that are worshiped and protected by people through belief systems. India has over 100,000 groves, known by various local names. Groves are shrinking due to changes in lifestyle, sociocultural change, and waning trust in associated myths and beliefs. The primary objective of this study was to explore the sociocultural practices and management systems that support the sacred groves in Kerala. We conducted a systematic review of studies about aspects of sacred groves, with a focus on the state of Kerala. Our review used a survey of online databases such as Scopus, Google Scholar, Pubmed, and Web of Science, as well as offline libraries. We grouped articles into: sociocultural aspects; management; and biodiversity. Decline in size of groves poses a threat to both the biological diversity of the groves as well as the sociocultural systems that have been handed down through generations. There is a need to document the significance and diversity of sociocultural systems associated with the sacred groves and also the dynamic changes impacting the biodiversity supported by the groves, which are testimonials of social and cultural heritage and belief systems in Kerala.