Role of sacred groves in ameliorating microclimate: A case study of Nagdev temple forest of Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand Himalaya, India

To show the role of sacred grove in rejuvenating the microclimate, a study was conducted at the temple forest of Nagdev area (Latitude 30° 8’ 30” N and Longitude 78° 46’ 25” East) of Pauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand Himalaya, India. Nagdev temple forest area was compared with a nearby (control) site, having relatively more biotic disturbances. Weather parameters viz. temperatures- maximum and minimum, wind velocity, rainfall, sunshine hours, etc. have been collected from both study sites, compiled for monthly and annual values and compared. Daily climatic variables showed significant differences in some of the parameters. There are marked variations in the range of daily observations of all the microclimatic parameters of both sites. Relative humidity values both at morning and evening hours have clear differences, similarly, maximum and minimum temperatures have also shown remarkable differences, particularly lower range of minimum temperature at control site was -7.1°C, whereas it was -2.8°C in the temple forest. There were more days (12 days) with minus temperatures at control site as compared to temple forest (4 days). Snowfall was also high in the control site as compared to temple forest; bright sun shine hours and wind speed values are more at control site than temple forest site. Vegetation of both sites was studied following standard nested quadrat method for trees, shrubs and herbs. Phytosociological parameters of the study sites reveal that tree, shrub and herb species were more in number at temple forest site than the control site. All phytosociological parameters of tree, shrub and herb species common at both sites also showed differences in these parameters at both sites. Surface soil of both sites were also analysed for physicochemical attributes of their replicate samples and compared. Average values of soil samples for their different attributes have also shown clear variations in their ranges at both sites.   Key words: Nagdev temple forest, Pauri Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, vegetation, soil, microclimatic data.