Ethnobiological Envision of Bioresource Conservation in India

Hindu religious traditions enshrine respect for nature and consider protection of nature as a sacred duty. Indian biodiversity concept which still survives in these traditions has considerable relevance to innovation of bioresources and their sustainable use. It has been homeland to a large number of cultivated crop plants, animals, traditionally many of which are considered sacred, worshipped and sustained. Numerous species growing in wilderness have been enjoying some kind of protection from ancient times by the ethnic communities many of which have been contemporarily proved to perform important ecological services and fulfill human needs as a source of fodder, forage, medicines, fuel, timber, etc. and bring economic benevolence. Many forests are conserved in different regions of India as sacred groves where many useful species including threatened ones are protected by religious interdicts. Religious practices, faith, taboos, indigenous art, tattoos and paintings concern resources of biodiversity origin. As long as Hindu cultural activities continue, conservation of biodiversity would continue. Documentation and evaluation of traditional knowledge of ethnic people about biodiversity and their social, economic and cultural implications, should be prioritized as one of the thrust areas of scientific research today for successful conservation of nature, generation of novel genetic resources and biotechnological innovations.