Enhancing biodiversity using traditional African knowledge in Benin
Enhancing biodiversity using traditional African knowledge in Benin
Context
In 2021, flooding in Bétécoucou, Commune of Dassa-Zoumé, prompted the community to reflect on environmental management approaches and consider traditional means of protecting the local forests. Benin has mangrove forests in the south of the country as well as protected forests that are culturally sacred in its central region. In recent years, sustainable agricultural practices have been replaced by modern approaches that focus more on economic gains - for example, logging activities - resulting in environmental degradation and increasing climate vulnerability. African communities have long lived in harmony with their environment, but extrinsic values and the allure of short-term economic gains have resulted in environmental degradation, which has significant consequences for local communities that depend on ecosystems for their livelihoods.
Project activities
Survie de la Mère et de l’Enfant (Survie) aims to establish an exchange and collaboration between scientists, local development actors and members of the local community, including youth and women’s groups, who can work together to integrate indigenous and local approaches into subnational ecosystem management plans. The project will:
- Document and evaluate the local environmental protection activities based on traditional knowledge.
- Support the uptake of these management plans for other communities and national government actors.
- Support the local community in making the best use of indigenous knowledge for the preservation of the environment and biodiversity.
Survie has hosted meetings with local authorities including Mayors of the respective districts, forestry inspectorate, prefect of the region, ministries of decentralisation and local governance. The project has established a steering committee representing different grassroot communities and local groups.
This work culminated in a project launch ceremony held on the 24th of June and attended by 147 people in Savalou and Savè where crowned heads (spiritual leaders in the region) celebrated the importance of the project’s activities and engaged with young climate advocates from the community. See the YouTube video of the ceremony by a local TV channel, which features filmed speeches from the different local authorities, who are committed to the project’s objectives and recognise how the project is upholding the cultural values in Benin.
The project is working to garner support from these leaders to integrate these local practices with modern conservation approaches and technologies, including GIS mapping into the local laws governing the forests.
The project also hosts awareness sessions with the local people to better understand how they use the forests and how the project can support the conservation of forests without compromising their livelihoods by
- Developing a database of innovative practices to protect the environment, biodiversity and forests.
- Drafting a bill to protect biodiversity and forests for the National Assembly for consideration and vote.
Project outputs
The project has also been featured in local media outlets because of its innovative and locally aligned approach towards protecting forests.
Afrique Numerique TV posted on August 6th, 2024:
RECOVERING BIODIVERSITY: A call to ancestral wisdom in the hills of Benin
“ Our traditions hold invaluable treasures for protecting our environment”
Survie ONG
This initiative marks a turning point in the management of our natural resources. Survie works towards sustainable development that respects the environment by involving local people and promoting their know-how.”
Project launch July 2024 (8 mins)
