Forest Preferences & Urbanization: Perspective from four Sacred Groves in India’s National Capital Region

Abstract

The sacred grove, a forest abode of a deity or deities, exists in contemporary myths and landscapes. This study analyzes sacred groves as complex socio-ecological systems and approaches the plight of four extant sacred groves amidst the urbanization in India’s National Capital Region as a collective action problem. Utilizing demographic and ecological variation in Willingness to Pay (WTP) – by revealed and stated preference measures – for visits to sacred forest, non-sacred forest, and worship sites outside of sacred forests, I analyze shifts in demand in this socio-ecological system. This data provides nuance to the hypothesis that Sanskritization – transition from local, folk to global, Hindu deity worship – results in degradation of the sacred grove institution. While increased urban and Sanskritization characteristics correspond with a trade-off of sacred forest for temple preference, these characteristics also correspond with increased perception of non-sacred forests as useful for ecosystem services. These results suggest attention to nonlinear dynamics in collective action settings sensitive to cultural evolution.