Sacred groves: the gene banks of threatened and ethnomedicinal flora, associated taboos and role in biodiversity conservation in the Peer Panchal range of North Western Himalayas, India

Sacred groves are the traditionally managed small or large patches of relict vegetation conserved on religious beliefs and representing climax vegetation. These sacred have some set traditional rules protocols called taboos, which key to conservation diversity within. Interestingly, every grove has its legends, myths, lores an integral part groves. act as a gene bank for threatened endemic flora fauna diversity, either diminishing from open forest areas somewhere species get cleared however, these still found in good numbers The forests powerhouse important ethnomedicinal flora, several medicinal plants housed patches. In Peer Panchal region, play pivotal role vegetation, present era modernity development, facing high anthropogenic pressure due erosion knowledge beliefs, leading rate deteriorations life savior forests. work reviews region Northwestern Himalayas, intending highlight their maintaining balance our ecosystem need recognize values proper life-savior