IPSI Second Global Conference
SC III/5/add.4
12 March 2012

Name of the activity: Sustainable management and conservation of resources andtraditional knowledge of sacred forests.
1. Overview of the project
Benin is a country located in the West African containing about 2 940 sacred forests which
cover an area of 18,360 hectares, or about 0.18% of the total area of the country. These sacred
forests through their ecological functions (protection of water sources, soil against erosion,
habitat for sacred animals and plants), religious function (shelter deities, place of worship,
rituals or other ceremonies), socioeconomic and cultural function (harvest of deadwood,
herbal or dietary, places of initiation, cemetery) play an important role in the local population
well being and in the conservation of natural resources. In addition, sacred forests are thesanctuary of the original biodiversity of ecosystems. They represent a successful model oftraditional management and biodiversity conservation. These forests have not benefited fromlegal protection status like classified forests; however they could maintain the integrity of
their resources till a recent past. The principle of this method of conservation is based on fear
and respect for traditional local beliefs, on the strength of traditional authority, the power ofdignitaries and religious leaders. Currently with the weakness of the traditional power andbeliefs, prohibitions are more respected, which is most sacred forests are being unreasonable
and uncontrolled exploitation and are subject to a disturbing degradation and sacred forest are
threatened It’s urge to save these traditional laboratories the sacred grooves represent and theendogenous knowledge that the dignitaries hold. The NGO Ce.Sa.Re.N will support a newform of co-management which integrates practices and knowledge of traditional and modernsciences. The NGO Ce.Sa.Re.N will work with municipal governments, traditional
authorities, practitioners of traditional medicine and religious leaders in conservation andmanagement of these ecosystems.
General objective: contribute to the sustainable management of forest resources in wet lands
areas for improvement of incomes and the living conditions of populations.
Specific objectives:•••support conservation and participatory management based on traditional management
model,
promote the sustainable use of natural resources around these ecosystems in order toreduce the pressures on these resources and increase the income of the poors throughimproved local production capacity,
Empower communities on access and sharing fairly and equitably in the benefits
derived from the exploitation of genetic resources (ABS) ecosystems involved.

The strategy of the project
The project strategy is to combine traditional practices and endogenous knowledge with ofmodern sciences methods for the participatory and sustainable management of sacred forests.
CeSAReN NGOs will support the establishment of local committees and management

IPSI Second Global Conference
SC III/5/add.4
12 March 2012

structures with the mandate and ability to ensure adequate protection of biodiversity resourcesin sacred forests. Development and participatory management plans will be developed.
Biodiversity friendly activities will be promoted within sacred forests and surrounding areas
through mechanisms and partnerships with community groups, NGOs, religious authorities
and traditional and other healers users. Sacred forests and shoreline village food andmedicinal species and associated TK will be identified to be valued. For this purpose, thecapacity of communities and particularly those of traditional knowledge holders will bestrengthened in terms of Access and Benefit Sharing.
Project area and target group
The project will be implemented in the wetlands located south of Benin. Project target groupis consisted of different social strata of the population involved in management of theseforests namely dignitaries, followers of traditional religions, the tradipractitioners, farmers
innovators, women, men and youth who depend on sacred forest. The direct benefit of theproject for the target group is to develop sacred forests resources to ensure fully andsustainably the vital functions that they play. This project will also help improve incomes andthe livelihood of local population.
Expected results: The main results expected at the end of this project are:Outcome 1: Forests of the area are equipped with functional participatory management plan
Outcome 2: Income and livelihood are improved in the project areas,
Outcome 3: NTFPs and medicinal species and associated traditional knowledge are morevalued in the project area.
2. Budget and duration
The amount needed to implement the project is estimated at US $ 620,000. The project will be
implemented during three (3) years.
3. Clusters to be allocated:
Cluster 1: Knowledge facilitation
Cluster 4: Capacity Building
Cluster 5: On-the-Ground Activities
4. IPSI member organisations involved: International Tropical Timber Organization(ITTO)
5. Contact person:
BOSSOU Bienvenu
Directeur ONG Cercle pour la Sauvegarde des Ressources Naturelles (ONG Ce.Sa.Re.N )02 BP 268 Cotonou (Rep. du Bénin) Tel (00229) 95 42 50 47,

IPSI Second Global Conference
SC III/5/add.4
12 March 2012

E-mail:cesarenong@yahoo.fr orbmbc1957@gmail.com or
lokossouo@yahoo.fr