Sacred groves (Kavus) are ancient, community-conserved forest fragments that serve as critical repositories of biodiversity. Along our coastlines, these unique micro-ecosystems are under severe anthropogenic pressure—yet they remain indispensable for local ecological stability, climate resilience, and cultural heritage.
We are incredibly proud to share a vital new initiative focused on Coastal Sacred Grove Restoration, aimed at healing these degraded fragments, protecting rare flora, and reinforcing coastal defenses.
A Collaborative Model for Grassroots Conservation In a powerful stride toward community-led Nature-based Solutions (NbS), the Western Ghats Hornbill Foundation, in collaboration with the Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC), Sree Narayanapuram, and the MGNREGA program, has launched this targeted restoration drive.
Site Identification: Mapping and assessing degraded coastal sacred groves within the Sree Narayanapuram Panchayat. Targeted Planting: Introducing site-specific, threatened plant saplings alongside their natural floristic associates to ensure micro-climate compatibility and long-term survival. Community Empowerment: Integrating local livelihoods and institutional scientific research to build a sustainable, community-owned conservation framework.
This project is generously funded and supported by the Prakriti Research Fellowship and BMC, Sree Narayanapuram.
By bringing together local government bodies, indigenous ecological insights, and scientific restoration practices, we are working to ensure these vital coastal refugia survive for generations to come.
