July meetup in Foyah
The meetup discussed the topic “The traditional approaches for conservation and use of biodiversity in rural Liberia”.
Liberia’s plant and animal life is greatly diverse, with high rates of biodiversity and high populations of species that are nearly extinct in other countries. Much of this rich biodiversity is found in the forests, making them important landscapes to the country.
Secret societies, traditional healers and hunters, traditional norms and taboos and rotational farming were identified by participants as the major traditional approaches for conservation and use of biodiversity in rural Liberia. This blog outlines how they have been used.
Secret Societies
One of the many traditional institutions for conserving the environment in rural Liberia is the secret society called Poro. This is an all-male institution that aims to impart knowledge on the culture, traditions and customs of the society. Some of the Poro initiates teach the sacredness of the environment and the need for conservation. As a political institution the Poro oversees the observance of rules related to sacred groves and water bodies. In addition, they can place a ban on hunting during certain times of the year to allow for reproduction of the species to go uninterrupted.
Another traditional institution is the Sande, an all-female institution. The Sande’s contribution to conservation, as in the case of the Poro, begins during the period of initiation when new members are given knowledge on flora, fauna and aquatic life. At the end of the initiation period, a number of the graduates go on to become herbalists and traditional healers.
Taboos
Taboos are useful in ensuring that certain faunal and flora species are conserved. There are basically three types of taboos in Liberia. Those observed by individuals within the tribe as a condition resulting from intermarriage; those sanctioned by the community; and those observed by of extended families and clans. Another kind of taboo prohibits fishing in certain bodies of water in which the fish are considered human in fish form. An example of this taboo in a community called Jawo Manalata in Bong County where the citizens in that community do not eat cat fish from the river. Travelers traveling that route from Gbarnga to Ganta stop to take a look at the fish in amazement.
Rotational Farming
Also referred to as shifting cultivation, rotational farming is one of the few and most effective methods of conserving flora and fauna in the rural setting. The farmer abandons the area cultivated and leaves the land to fallow or at least five years. At the end of this period the soil is rich enough for cultivation.
Sacred Groves
The establishment of sacred groves contributes immensely to conservation in rural Liberia. Perceived as abodes of ancestral and evil spirits, cutting of trees or hunting is prohibited in sacred groves. In this way they have become natural breeding ground for fauna and flora.
