Ecological Attributes of Sacred Groves in West Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, India

Sacred groves, imbued with cultural significance through associations with deities, rituals, taboos, and ethnic heritage, establish an inseparable connection between contemporary society and historical roots. Across our country, diverse traditional communities engage in nature worship, each expressing their unique ethnic practices. The fundamental belief underlying these practices is the imperative to safeguard all natural creations, characterized by their immense richness in diversity and endemism. Conducted in 2020-21, this research focused on three sacred forests—Law Lyngdoh Mawnai, Law Lyngdoh Nonglait, and Law Lyngdoh Mawlong—in Meghalaya, India. Sampling involved 20 quadrats randomly placed within the study area 10 x 10 m2 (trees) and 5 x 5 m2 (shrubs), with an experienced guide aiding species identification. Findings revealed Law Lyngdoh Mawnai's have 23 tree species and 15 shrub species, Law Lyngdoh Nonglait's-17 tree species and 17 shrub species, and Law Lyngdoh Mawlong's- 22 tree species and 19 shrub species. The Ecological attributes for all sites ranged as follows: species richness (2.80-3.79), species diversity (2.10-2.71), evenness index (0.74-0.87), dominance index (0.09-0.21), and similarity index (21.21-34.48).