THE RELIGIOUS, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF FOREST LANDSCAPES IN UTTARAKHAND HIMALAYA, INDIA

The present study was an attempt to understand the community behavior of cultural and tradition rich forested landscapes towards the conservation and management of forest resources. The present study was conducted in five selected protected forests (Chanderbadni, Jameshwar, Ulkagari, Ansuiya Devi and Maroor) located in four districts of Garhwal Himalaya, India. Conservation practices and belief system was discussed with local inhabitants residing within and around the vicinity of these forests. A well-structured semi-structured questionnaire dataset was developed for formal and informal discussions with the communities. Deities of both genders are worshiped; however, people have more faith in feminine deities compared to male deities. The awareness among villagers regarding the conservation is historical. Different festivals and traditional celebrations are held to keep the heritage intact with younger generations. No use of weapons, restrictions to pregnant women, and ban on spitting and making of toilets around the core zones has restricted the entry by the local communities. Demarcation around the boundaries by red flags or statues of gods or goddesses have been erected in the forested landscapes to put votive offerings, which ultimately give protection to these landscapes in the form of social conservation.