Conservation Education: Roles of indigenous knowledge and cultural beliefs in southwest Nigeria

Babalola, F.D. and Kumoye, S.A.Babalola, F.D. and Kumoye, S.A.

Dept. of Forest Resources Management, University of Ibadan, Nigeriafolababs2000@yahoo.com

Presented at Presented at international colloquium of Educational Research international colloquium of Educational Research Network for West and Central Africa (ERNWACA), 15-16-17 Network for West and Central Africa (ERNWACA), 15-16-17 December 2009, Bamako, MaliDecember 2009, Bamako, Mali

Theme: Theme: The educational research on policy and practice in AfricaThe educational research on policy and practice in Africa

The world is currently faced with loss of biological diversity at an alarming rate.

Biodiversity is in areas used by people Local people have incentives to conserve

biodiversity when their livelihoods depend on it.

Introduction

Indigenous peoples in many parts of the world imbue headlands, springs, trees and forest with religious meanings.

Introduction (cont’d)

Problem statement

Traditional beliefs face a problem of integration into science and conservation efforts.

To effectively conserve biodiversity, we need to understand how human cultures interact with landscapes and shape them into cultural values.

Cultural sites and sacred sites are ecologically unique and important for conservation on varying scale of landscapes.

Emphasis is now on curbing envtal degradation (REDD) and ultimately CC, hence the need for conservation education.

COP15 at Copenhagen (UN Climate Change Conference).

Justification

Objective

To determine the contribution of indigenous knowledge and cultural beliefs to conservation of biological diversity with the view to raising awareness among policy makers, researchers, planners, managers and other stakeholders.

Osun Sacred Grove, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.

In 2005, UNESCO named the Osun sacred grove a world heritage site.

Study site

Map of Osun scared grove (the dense forest) surrounded by Osogbo

Selection of the grove was based on its cultural significance and contribution to biodiversity conservation.

Study site (cont’d)

Interview and administration of questionnaires to:

Guards in the grove, and

local people living in the community adjoining to the grove.

Line transect for the sampling of the tree and animal species

Methodology

Results and discussions

The grove is rich in tropical diversities: trees, shrubs, herbs, and climbers

Some of the plants are sacred e.g. Newbouldia laevis and Spondias mombin use for coronation and installation of King and chiefs.

Flora diversities of the grove

The riparian vegetation is the only remaining relic of the Nigeria rainforest ecosystem endemic to the grove.

The forest serves as watershed.

Riparian vegetation of the grove

The grove is dotted with sanctuaries and shrines, sculptures and art works in honour of Osun and other deities.

Austrian artist Susanne Wenger (Adunni Olorisa) designed and constructed the artistic works in the grove.

Artistic works in the grove

The suspended bridge is one of the lasting colonial relics in the grove.

Serves as a channel of crossing the Osun River

Colonial relic in the grove

The riparian forest houses primate species, birds, snakes and other reptiles, forest antelopes, squirrels, and amphibians.

Fauna diversities

River Osun was believed to provided water of life which saved the inhabitants of ancient Oshogbo town from hunger, pestilence and religious war.

It is still believe to provide protective guidance till today.

Some cultural beliefs in the grove

Fishing MUST NOT be carried out in the Osun River.

Cultural Beliefs:

the fishes belong to the river goddess.

any fish caught from the river will never cook no matter how long it is subjected to heat,

anybody who consumes such fish will die same day and if survived, will become an imbecile or run mad or something worst happen to such a person.

Some cultural beliefs (cont’d)

The grove is regarded as the abode of the goddess of fertility.

Sacrifice to appease the god for provision of babies:

pap (Zea mays)) and vegetable (efo yanrin) Launaea taraxacifolia is placed under a statue called Olomoyoyo

Some cultural beliefs (cont’d)

Annual celebration known as Osun cultural festival is done in reverence and appreciation to the goddess of fertility.

Osun cultural festival

The festival is slated for the Friday of the second week of August every year.

Attended by dignitaries, tourists, etc

The festival contributes to the economy of the people by generating extra income.

Gate and camera fees

Charges collected from tourists and film actors

Economic contribution of the grove

The grove is undergoing a level of degradation

Many of the wild animals have been hunted;

Forest at the buffer zone and boundary has been converted into farmland.

Negative impacts in the grove

S/N Identified factors that led to the grove encroachment

Percentage (%)

1 Neglect of the local beliefs 90

2 Present custodian do not have the local knowledge of protection

40

3 Low employment of local indigene in management strategy

35

4 Government is in total control 60

5 Inadequate land for farming 25

What led to the grove encroachment?

Cultural beliefs and indigenous knowledge is highly contributory to the conservation of biodiversity.

Unfortunately, many of the African indigenous knowledge and cultural beliefs are fast disappearing.

Sacred groves are also currently on the decrease.

It is high time that we start to revisit these heritages and explore their significance and contributions to protection of the environment.

Conclusion

Efforts should be made by the concerned educational authorities to introduce conservation education into school curriculum.

There is need for appropriate integration of traditional beliefs into conservation and management strategies of natural resources. Community forestry; Joint forest mgt

There should be more research into the African indigenous knowledge and cultural beliefs to assist in policy formulation

Recommendations

If you change the way you look at thing, the thing you look at will change.

Ponder

Thank you ForListening!