Students grow trees for sacred groves

They collect seeds, then germinate and plant them

Trees for company:Students of Thamarakudy Siva Vilasam Vocational Higher Secondary School at the Chaavaru sacred grove in Mylom grama panchayat near Kottarakara.

Students attached to the eco club of the Thamarakudy Siva Vilasam Vocational Higher Secondary School have taken up the task of reviving 15 sacred groves in and around Kottarakara. The task was undertaken after studying the biodiversity of five sacred groves over the past two years.

15 groves

As part of the study, they collected seeds of creepers, shrubs and trees found in the groves and germinated them. The saplings were then taken and planted in the 15 groves. These are sacred groves where the plants were dying because of various reasons, mainly human impact.

Before they embarked on the project, the students were explained about the importance of sacred groves in preserving biodiversity outside the forest areas.

While carrying out the project the students are also giving thrust to preserving the religious aspects of the groves. They are restoring the traditional deities of the groves. The deities are known locally as Marutha, Kattala, Murthy, Yakshi and Appooppan, apart from Sarpam.