From September 2015 to February 2016, we collected field data to study the tree species diversity, population structure and regeneration potential of five sacred forests of western Odisha, India, that differ in size, associated deities, and local communities. The close association of sacred forests with local people represents a community-based, participatory approach to conservation. Our quantitative analysis in five sites documented 78 tree species of 66 genera and 33 families. Tree density and species diversity were higher than previously reported for the forests of the Eastern Ghats, India. Population structure and regeneration potential in four out of five study sites showed a higher percentage of density in the seedling and sapling layers, demonstrating that these sites are regenerating. However, in the Gugarpat sacred forest, the population structure revealed large numbers of mature trees with a stable population structure. In our study, large proportions of species had either poor regeneration potential or were not regenerating. Hence, management strategies are needed to conserve these species. Our study documents the diversity, population patterns, and regeneration of the tree species of five sacred forests, which may help in further management and conservation of the biodiversity of sacred forests in India and globally.

从2015年9月到2016年2月，我们收集了野外数据，以研究印度西部奥里萨邦5个神圣森林的树种多样性，种群结构和再生潜力，这些森林的大小，相关的神灵和当地社区有所不同。神圣森林与当地人的紧密联系代表了一种基于社区的参与性保护方法。我们在五个地点进行的定量分析记录了66个属和33个科的78种树种。树木密度和物种多样性高于印度东高止山脉森林的先前报道。5个研究地点中有4个的种群结构和再生潜力显示出幼苗和树苗层中较高的密度百分比，表明这些地点正在再生。但是，在古加尔帕特神圣森林中 种群结构显示出大量成熟的树木，种群结构稳定。在我们的研究中，很大比例的物种要么再生能力差，要么没有再生。因此，需要管理策略来保护这些物种。我们的研究记录了五个神圣森林的树种的多样性，种群格局和再生，这可能有助于进一步管理和保护印度乃至全球神圣森林的生物多样性。