Threats To Ronga Custodianship Of A Sacred Grove In Southern Mozambique

• DOI: 10.4314/indilinga.v7i2.26435
• Publication Date: 2011-11-28T19:44:41Z
• Authors: SA Izidine; SJ Siebert; AE Van Wyk; AM Zobolo
• Keywords: Tribe; Taboo; Traditional Knowledge; Ethnobotany; Local government area

Licuáti Forest Reserve in southern Mozambique safeguards a dry, tropical forest with many rare and endemic plant species, but it is also sacred grove that holds the graves of Santaca family who long served as local traditional authority. Interviews male elders tribe serve main source information regarding cultural beliefs practices concerning forest. Feedback contends taboos other have been more important than state-based regulations protecting forest, particularly from charcoal production. The capacity measures to protect limited, given socio-economic political status country. This has led involvement government through conservation policy law enforcement. However, such formal are not sufficient, nor effective workable scheme based on indigenous knowledge system proposed means ensure sustainable use collaboration governmental institutions. Keywords: Biodiversity, conservation, ethnobotany, knowledge, Licuáti, Sand Forest, taboo, tribal authority.Indilinga Vol. 7 (2) 2008: pp. 182-197