Sacred Groves in Bali, Indonesia

Sacred groves are located in various districts in Bali. Hindu society in Bali utilizes plants as a means of performing religious ceremonies as offerings for God. One of the plants used is the fruit of Dipterocarpus hasseltii, which can be found in sacred groves and protected forests. D. hasseltii is an endangered species from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Sacred groves are proof of the conservation work carried out by the Hindu community in Bali. Information from interviewees that Hindu society has preserved of D. hasseltii for several centuries can be find in Sangeh. The management of each sacred grove is very different; some are managed privately, and some are managed by the community in collaboration with the government. It is very important to know how conservation management is carried out in each sacred grove as well as the diversity of species in sacred groves.

For more information, contact:

Ni Kadek Erosi Undaharta (Ph.D Candidate)
Bali Botanical Garden
Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI)
Candikuning, Baturiti
Tabanan - Bali 82191
Indonesia
nika002@lipi.go.id, rosiundaharta@gmail.com