These patches of greenery could have been the relics of what was once the pristine forest. Maintained and preserved for centuries in the name of a village deity or a forest spirit, they have remained undisturbed for so long that they appear as isolated fragments of dense forest. Experts may call them micro climatic mini-forests, but local communities call these natural islands of vegetation 'kavus' (sacred groves) which are still preserved by mythological beliefs. The 'kavus', however, are facing threats by way of changes in values as well as socio-economic pressures, despite the weight of traditional beliefs and rituals associated with them.