Sacred green spaces in semi-urban areas sustain more birds than its adjacent areas: A study from lower Gangetic plains, West Bengal, India

Abstract With rapid urban expansion and flourishing real estate sector, remaining green patches in many sub-urban/peri-urban areas are facing immense threat and/or being destroyed. We therefore, explored the avian abundance richness of spaces around temples (sacred sites) compared them with adjoining without religious places (control sites). The species sacred sites (12.16 ± 0.65 species; 25.54 1.176 individuals) was significantly higher than control (6.31 0.77 20.04 1.4 individuals). compositions communities were different presence temple positively influenced richness. GLMM also revealed that by distance to building tree cover area not road, water body, bare land. Our findings indicate have greater diversity semi-urban areas, could be prioritized for conservation diversity. Generating local support relatively easier due traditional, cultural belief against felling worship.