Pasar al contenido principal

page search

Biblioteca Exploring the link between forests, traditional custodianship and community livelihoods: The Case of Nyambene forest in Kenya

Exploring the link between forests, traditional custodianship and community livelihoods: The Case of Nyambene forest in Kenya

Exploring the link between forests, traditional custodianship and community livelihoods: The Case of Nyambene forest in Kenya

Resource information

Date of publication
Diciembre 2014
Resource Language
ISBN / Resource ID
AGRIS:US201500071669
Pages
586-591

Kenya is home to many sacred natural sites, including forests, mountains and rivers. Indigenous communities have upheld their role and responsibilities, passed down over centuries by their ancestors as custodians of these places through time. The 5391 hectares in the Nyambene forest in central Kenya is a sacred site to the Ameru people, a community/tribe living on the northeastern slopes of Mt. Kenya. The forest is a resource from which customs, spiritual practices, and governance systems are derived to protect the territory as a whole and maintain its order, integrity and well-being. The Njuri Ncheke (council of elders) play a vital role in upholding the traditional ecological knowledge and customs, practised over generations, including acting as custodians of sacred groves around which rain-making rituals are performed. This paper examines the link between traditional custodianship and community livelihoods against a background of diverse national legislations on forest/land use management and religious influences. The author demonstrates how this forest weaves around the lives of the Ameru people and makes a case for the need to encourage community participation and traditional custodianship in protecting ecosystems and their associated cultural heritage.

Share on RLBI navigator
NO

Authors and Publishers

Author(s), editor(s), contributor(s)

Borona, Gloria Kendi

Data Provider
Geographical focus