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Exploration of Local Beliefs and Cultural Heritages as Tools for Species Conservation in Selected Sites in Africa

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Sustainable Utilization and Conservation of Africa’s Biological Resources and Environment

Part of the book series: Sustainable Development and Biodiversity ((SDEB,volume 32))

Abstract

The most effective means of conserving species is incorporating the human factor in the conservation plan, a “win-win” ecology situation. In Africa, cultural and traditional heritages are highly respected because they are conservation tools and play a vital role in people’s daily lives. There is a strong acceptance of local cosmology, which believes in the potency of ancestral spirits and powers. Therefore, traditional laws can be used to protect sites with endangered species and would prevent the overexploitation and extinction of many species in the Niger Delta area. Sacred places can be established in localities that have endangered species across the region, such as the crocodile (Osteolaemis tetraspis) holy site in the Biseni and Osiama Kingdoms, which resulted over the years in the protection of thousands of this species from human hunting. If adequately documented, the protected areas can serve as conservation sites that become a tourist’s attraction to generate revenue for the local community. Therefore, this chapter uniquely provides examples of how local belief has been used to preserve forests and rivers in some Niger Delta communities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

    Aroloye O. Numbere & Pasiya P. Otufu

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  1. Aroloye O. Numbere
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  2. Pasiya P. Otufu
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Bayelsa Medical University, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

    Sylvester Chibueze Izah

  2. Goodnight Family Department of Sustainable Development, Living Learning Center, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, USA

    Matthew Chidozie Ogwu

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Numbere, A.O., Otufu, P.P. (2023). Exploration of Local Beliefs and Cultural Heritages as Tools for Species Conservation in Selected Sites in Africa. In: Izah, S.C., Ogwu, M.C. (eds) Sustainable Utilization and Conservation of Africa’s Biological Resources and Environment. Sustainable Development and Biodiversity, vol 32. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-6974-4_7

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