Traditional Practices Adopted for the Conservation of Trees and Forest Products by the Meiteis in Manipur, India

Since ancient times, there has been a deep connection between the spiritual cultures of people and the way they interact with their natural surroundings. The Meitei community in Manipur, India is no exception to this. The Meiteis consider forests or other landscapes as sacred depending on their cultural significance, traditions, beliefs, and the historical association of the region. These sacred places where deities are believed to reside include hills, ponds, waterfalls, springs, etc. These sacred places were both in urban and rural areas; however, some of the habitats in urban areas have been degraded due to construction activities. The plants thriving in the sacred groves are revered as the embodiment of their ancestors and, therefore, remain undisturbed. In various other sanctified locations aside from the groves, the Meiteis also safeguard and refrain from disturbing several plant species and specific individual plants due to their deep historical and cultural significance. Nevertheless, with ongoing infrastructural development, many of these sacred sites are being disrupted, leading to a decline in the flora native to these areas. The review explores ancient practices embraced by the Meiteis for preserving trees, shrubs, and herbs along with an examination of their current status within the state.