Why do the Khasi and Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya, the Aravalli Hills in Rajasthan, and the Western Ghats represent vital reservoirs of rare and endangered plant species in India?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. Sacred groves protected by religious traditions that serve as last refuges for rare taxa

- Khasi and Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya,
- Aravalli Hills in Rajasthan,
- Western Ghats regions of Karnataka and Maharashtra,
- Sarguja, Chanda, and Bastar areas of Chhattisgarh.
  1. Step 1: Sacred Groves are tracts of pristine virgin forest that are communally protected by indigenous tribal peoples due to deep-seated cultural, spiritual, and religious beliefs.
  2. Step 2: In these protected zones, all deforestation, hunting, and resource extraction are strictly forbidden by cultural taboos.
  3. Step 3: Famous sacred groves in India include:
  4. Step 4: For many rare and critically endangered endemic plants, these sacred groves represent their last surviving refuges.
Answer
They are traditional 'Sacred Groves' where religious and cultural protection by indigenous communities prohibits all tree cutting and hunting
Why not the others: 'They are heavily guarded military weapons testing facilities...' is factually false; 'They are artificial botanical enclosures...' describes glasshouses or phytotrons, not natural sacred groves; 'They are barren desert wastelands...' is contradicted by their rich biodiversity.

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