- There is ample evidence that traditional African people, through religion,
custom and traditions have been able to protect and maintain biodiversity
in their environment.
- Traditional ecological knowledge of the people is embedded in local,
social, cultural and religious practices which needs to be clearly understood,
respected and used in a complementary way in solving environmental problems
in the community.
- A deeper understanding of the knowledge and perceptions which indigenous
people hold about their resources and the micro environment is a necessary
condition for the design of any intervention.
- New formal conservation efforts in the communities should rather
take advantage of existing informal conservation initiatives and build
upon them instead of always being directed by external models which
often have no bearing on the traditional values.
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