SACRED GROVES: A NOVICE IDEA FOR CARBON SEQUESTRATION

The daily anthropogenic advancements of humans have led to an increase in global carbon emissions. Every year, there has been an increase in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide. One of the least expensive ways to minimize this gas is by biological carbon sequestration in plants. Ecosystems of forests are the most significant carbon sinks among terrestrial ecosystems and have long-term sustainable impacts on limiting climate change. Sacred groves are less disturbed due to religious and mythological beliefs. It can serve as a model for effective carbon sequestration. Sacred groves are known as the small patches of conserved forests protected by man’s spiritual beliefs and cultural practices.  These sacred forest patches were studied from the ecological, environmental and floristic points of view by several research workers. Due to their religious and mythological myths and beliefs, sacred groves and sacred plants are conserved well. Apart from being conserved, these sacred plants can also have a higher potential for carbon sequestration. Using a non-destructive method, the total biomass and carbon stored in the sacred tree species have been calculated. The main focus of the current article is on estimating the carbon sequestration of sacred tree species in sacred groves found in selected areas Abdasa Taluka of Kachchh District. Total 51 sacred groves were recorded from 33 villages which cover approximately 23.64 hectares of land area. Carbon sequestration of 537 individuals of 23 tree species was estimated through the standard method. Ficus benghalensis L.is dominated in carbon i.e., 7.36 tones followed by Tamarindus indica L. (5.77 tones), Ficus religiosa L. (5.22 tones), Delonix regia (Boj.) Raf (3.02 tones). Lowest carbon sequestration was recorded in Prosopsis cineraria (L.) Druce, Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile, Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub and Punica granetum L. less than 1 tons respectively.