Floristic uniqueness and effect of degradation on diversity: A case study of sacred groves from northern Western Ghats.

Western Ghats of India is rich in floristic diversity and endemism. However, being highly threatened with anthropogenic stressors, with only 6.8% of its original vegetation still extant, along with Sri Lanka it is considered as a biodiversity hotspot. It has been suggested that sacred groves in Western Ghats could act as refuge for the relic flora of this region. Sacred groves are the forest patches conserved since centuries due to religious beliefs and are the remnants of the climax vegetation containing endemic and endangered species of plants and animals. However, due to severe deforestation and urbanization, sacred groves are facing serious problems. In present investigation, sacred groves from Pune district, Maharashtra, were studied for their ecological role and their response to physical as well as degradation related parameters. Two hundred ninety six species of plants belonging to 100 families including 45 endemic species were recorded from these groves. Similarity between sacred groves is independent of distances accounting for only 30% for the groves as close as 2.5 km from each other. Physical parameters such as altitude and presence of streams are positively correlated with number of endemic species. Increase in the degradation including cutting, lopping; construction activities have affected the species richness across different sacred groves. Our results show that each sacred grove is unique in terms of biodiversity it contains and demands dedicated conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]