FIVE YEARS ago, the social forestry department in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra cleared several trees from a forest near Nandivse village to plant acacia trees. It did not know that the 4-ha patch was a sacred grove surrounding the temple of a powerful local deity, Kal Bhairon. The villagers, too, joined in because they were paid for the felling and planting.

The tribals of south Bihar found new self respect after their struggle to save their sarnas from outsiders.

The grove of Tivri is the only one in Ratnagiri district to have escaped a social forestry scheme.

Kerala's serpent groves have fallen victim to changing times and beliefs.