Documentation of Single Trees Conserved as Culturally Protected Sites

Abstract

In the days of rapid urbanization it has been seen that sacred sites or culturally protected sites are emerging as a form of conservation. Sometimes just a single tree in an area of human habitation is considered as sacred. Local people often associate these single trees as the abodes of a particular deity. The religious belief of the local community is so strong that measures are taken to conserve that single tree as a sacred site. These sacred sites provide a means of safeguarding of cultural diversity which is essential to remind us of our identities. In a world marred by unprecedented species loss and marked by increasing globalization, the conservation of biological and cultural diversity becomes an imperative. This study is part of a student research project to document single trees conserved as sacred sites that are protected based on the religious belief of the local community.