International E-publication: Publish Projects, Dissertation, Theses, Books, Souvenir, Conference Proceeding with ISBN.  International E-Bulletin: Information/News regarding: Academics and Research

General awareness and Perceptions about Sacred Groves and Biodiversity Conservation in Urban people of Bankura District, West Bengal, India

    , , , , ,

Author Affiliations

  • Department of Zoology, Bankura Sammilani College, Bankura, INDIA

Int. Res. J. Environment Sci., Volume 4, Issue (2), Pages 16-21, February,22 (2015)

Abstract

This paper describes the results of a survey to find out the general awareness and perception of sacred groves and its role on biodiversity conservation between urban people of Bankura District. The result shows that only 57% of all respondents are familiar with the term biodiversity and 40 % are familiar with the term sacred groves but 56% are familiar with both the terms and 44% are not familiar with both of these terms. In our study a significant difference among different age groups observed in familiarity with the awareness of biodiversity conservation. Similarly perception and awareness increases with the educational level of respondents. When respondents were asked spontaneously to name one environmental problem then, 47% of all respondents mentioned pollution as the major environmental problems but very few were aware about ozone layer depletion, biodiversity degradation or other problems. Similarly television and news paper are the prime medium through which urban people know about the importance of biodiversity conservation and sacred groves. For successful preparation of conservation strategy, community participation is much more needed because local communities in many parts of the world play very important role for protection and conservation of biodiversity. For this reason a holistic understanding of the recent status, regarding general awareness and perceptions about sacred groves and biodiversity conservation among urban people of Bankura district is essential.

References

  1. UNEP/CBD/COP/8/14 (2006), Global initiative on communication, education and public awareness, Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, 8th meeting Curibita, Brazil, (20-31 March 2006)
  2. Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. International Science Congress Association 20 Figure-5 Different medium creating awareness among urban peoplesFigure-6 Human impact on Biodiversity and Sacred groves 2.Gadgil M., Berkes F. and Folke C., Indigenous Knowledge for biodiversity conservation, Ambio XII,(2-3), 266-270 (1993)
  3. Malhotra K.C., Deb D., History of Deforestation and Regeneration/Plantationin Midnapore District of West Bengal, India, In: Roy, Chatterjee S.B., Yadav M.G., Mukherjee G.R., (Eds), Policy to Practice of Joint Forest Management, Indian Institute of Bio-Social Research and Development (IBRAD), New Delhi, (1998)
  4. Sharma R., Aggarwal N. and Kumar S., Ecological Sustainability in India through the Ages, Int. Res. J. Environment Sci., 3(1), 70-73 (2014)
  5. Malhotra K.C., Gokhale Y., Chatterjee S. and Srivastava S., Sacred groves in India, New Delhi : Aryan Books International, (2007)
  6. Gadgil M. and Vartak V.D., Sacred groves in Western Ghats in India, Economic Botany, 30, 152-60 (1976)
  7. Roy Burman J.J., The institution of sacred grove, Journal of Indian Anthropological Society,27, 219-238 (1992)
  8. Roger A., Ecological change and future of the human species : can physicians make a difference, Animals of Family Medicine,173-176 (2005)
  9. Int. Res. J. Environment Sci. International Science Congress Association 219.Basu R., Studies on sacred groves and taboos in Purulia district of West Bengal, Indian Forester,126(12), 1309-1318 (2000)
  10. Panda D., Kumar P.P. and Das A.P., Ten important sacred groves of Santhals in the Bankura districts of West Bengal, India, Abstract, XIII Annual Conference of Indian Association for Angiosperm Taxonomy, and International Symposium on Plant Taxonomy : Advances and Relevance (November 14-15)72 ( 2003)
    11. <
  11. Deb D., Sacred ecosystems of West Bengal, In : A K Ghosh (ed), Status of Environment in West Bengal : A Citizens’ Report, ACB Publications, Kolkata, (2007)
  12. Basu R., Biodiversity and ethno botany of sacred groves in Bankura District, West Bengal, Indian Forester, 135(6), 765-778 (2009)
  13. Saheb S.U., Seshaiah S. and Viswanath B., Environment and Their Legal Issues in India, Int. Res. J. Environment Sci., 1(3), 44-51 (2012)
  14. Kellert S.R., Japanese Perceptions of Wildlife, Conservation Biology,5(3), 297-308 (1991)
  15. Holl K.D., Daily G.C. and Ehrlich P.R., Knowledge and Perceptions in Costa Rica Regarding Environment, Population, and Biodiversity Issues, Conservation Biology, 9(6), 1548-1558 (1995)
  16. Sugirtharan M. and Venuthasan T., Farmer’s awareness on climate change related issues at some irrigable areas of Batticaloa district, Sri Lanka, Int. Res. J. Environment Sci, 1(2), 29-32 (2012)
  17. Pandit P.K., Role of sacred groves in Environmental Conservation in Purulia District Banabithi (July), 30-31 (2000)
  18. Pandit P.K., Bhakat R.K., Conservation of Biodiversity and ethnic culture through sacred groves in Midnapur District, West Bengal, India, Indian Forester,133(3),323-344(2007)
  19. Dutta A.B. and Sengupta I., Environmental Impact assessment and construction, I. Res. J. Environmental Sci., 3(1), 53-61 (2014)
  20. Dutta T K., Sou S.K., and Mondal R P., Current Status and Possible Causes of Reptile’s Decline, I. Res. J. Environmental Sci., 3(9), 75-79 (2014)