The sacred groves tradition in India has received considerable attention from researchers – anthropologists, biologists, ecologists, economists, historians, and sociologists alike. The sacred groves of Kodagu (Devarakadus) in the Western Ghats are no exception.
This article discusses the necessity of a landscape approach in the analysis and presents the results based on an empirical study on diversity of trees, birds and mushrooms in a South Kodagu landscape. The study highlights that sacred groves of Kodagu cannot be looked at in isolation – the landscape that surrounds them is not only crucial in determining biodiversity found within these forest patches, but also has important consequences for their conservation management. A strategy for biodiversity conservation in Kodagu is suggested with an emphasis to consider the religious significance of sacred groves along with the integrity of the protected area and the biodiversity-friendly management of coffee plantations.

sacred groves, landscapes, conservation