Conservation Beyond Formal Institutions: Safeguarding Mangar Bani through Cultural Identity and Traditional Knowledge Systems

Abstract

Culturally governed landscapes are an important yet often overlooked part of human-environment interactions, particularly in rapidly urbanizing and ecologically vulnerable regions. Sacred groves, as areas of cultural protection, are a concrete way to demonstrate how cultural values, beliefs, and traditional practices shape ecological outcomes that lie beyond conventional conservation approaches. This study takes a closer look at Mangar Bani, a Sacred Grove in the Aravalli Mountains of Northern India, to examine how Cultural Identity and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) contribute to preserving the ecological integrity of Mangar Bani, as urban-rural interfacing continues to increase. Mangar Bani is caught in a struggle between two competing ideologies: urbanization and cultural identity. Cultural beliefs dictate how land is used for resource extraction and mobility. Through a combination of individual surveys, including Likert-scale-based analysis, key informant interviews, and qualitative narratives, this study explores how Cultural Practices, such as Rituals, Taboos, Myths, and Community Institutions, provide informal mechanisms of Spatial Governance. Findings reveal that the primary means of sustaining environmental health in Mangar Bani has been through culturally based practices rather than governmental or formalised means. Additionally, the study identifies significant differences across generations and how respondents perceive conservation. Older members of the community tend to adhere more strongly to sacred norms than younger members, who are increasingly associated with urban occupations and economic motivations. This development indicates a growing tension between traditional ecological stewardship and the desire for modern development in peri-urban settings. Additionally, local conversations indicate a gradual blending or negotiation of traditional and contemporary conservation methods, suggesting that hybrid governance structures to support ecological stewardship will emerge. By situating sacred groves within the context of cultural landscapes, regional ecology and spatial planning, this research argues that culturally conserved sites represent an important component of sustainable urban-rural ecological systems. Incorporating cultural practices and traditional ecological knowledge into spatial and environmental planning will create more resilient ecosystems and support local community involvement in conserving rapidly developing landscapes.