Conserving Sacred Groves in Western Haryana: A Geospatial and Biocultural Analysis for Resilient Ecosystem Management

Abstract Sacred groves (SGs) are community-protected forest patches dedicated to local deities, crucial for biodiversity conservation but threatened by habitat loss and weakening traditions. This study provides the first inventory of SGs in Western Haryana, documenting 108 groves across 107 Gram Panchayats, covering 5,888 acres. The Bhiwani division contained 43 % of groves and 50 % of total area, with clustering in Loharu, Charkhi Dadri, and Bhiwani ranges. Sizes varied from <50 acres (48 %) to >100 acres (17 %), and eight grove types were identified, dominated by Temple/Mandir groves (58.3 %). In total, 69 deities were recorded, with 48 % of groves linked to village-based deities. Notably, over 90 % showed ecological degradation due to boundary erosion, biomass removal, and encroachment, while most lacked formal recognition. These findings affirm SGs as biocultural “mini-biospheres” shaped by rituals and land-use legacies, highlighting the urgent need for strengthened governance through People’s Biodiversity Registers, panchayat bylaws, and cultural incentives. The study provides a quantitative baseline for conservation strategies that integrate ecological and cultural sustainability.