In December last year stakeholders gathered to review conservation activities aimed at safeguarding Zanzibar’s many sacred groves known as ‘Misitu ya Jadi’ in Swahili. One of the main lessons drawn is that although relatively small in size and modest in stature they are extremely important for culture, history, archeology, geology, nature conservation and environmental services. […]
The Sacred Natural Sites Initiative regularly features “Conservation Experiences” of custodians, protected area managers, scientists and others. This post features the experiences of Ms. Cholponai Usubalieva-Gryshchuk and Gulnara Aitpeva respectively Research Officer and Director at Aigne Cultural Research Center in Bishkek Kyrgyzstan. Aigne has been working on sacred natural sites in Kyrgyzstan for nearly a […]
The preparations for the completion of the 13th Baktun had not gone unnoticed to the world. The international community had quickly caught the public’s attention by promoting that that the Maya predicted the end of the world as we know it. These predictions, all false of course, did generate a lot of publicity and interest […]
The Sacred Natural Sites Initiative regularly features “Conservation Experiences” of custodians, protected area managers, scientists and others. This post features the experiences of Ms. Archana Godbole who is the Director of the Applied Environmental Research Foundation based in Pune India. AERF has been working in the Western Ghats for nearly two decades recuperating its acred […]
The Sacred Natural Sites Initiative is humbled to have been invited to lend its support to the National Council of Mayan Elders and Spiritual Leaders, Oxlajuj Ajpop. Especially so, as it’s efforts go towards supporting the celebrations of renewing the cycle of the Mayan Calendar. This celebration is to be held in over 20 sacred natural […]
The Sacred Natural Sites Initiative regularly features “Conservation Experiences” of custodians, protected area managers, scientists and others. This article features the experiences of Ms. Kaliopi Stara who studies excommunicated forests and sacred groves in Greece. Kalipi Stara, with the University University of Ioannina is currently leading post doctoral research on locally adapted conservation systems in […]
The Japanese section of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas Japanese recently and proudly launched their translation of the “IUCN-UNESCO Sacred Natural Sites Guidelines”. The launch happened late last month at the conference of parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity. It was part of a series of events that highlighted the role of […]
The Sacred Natural Site Initiative regularly features “Conservation Experiences” of custodians, protected area managers, scientists and other’s. This time we are featuring the experience of Mr. Robert Wild who has developed a case study on Lindisfarne Holy Island as part of the Delos Initiative. Robert is a social scientist, ecologist and also coordinator for the Sacred […]
With the permission of the grandmothers and grandfathers we carry this message to the national and international community...
Mount Uch Enmek is traditionally called the ‘navel’ of the Earth. The earth is believed to receive vital energy and knowledge through this navel in the same way as a foetus receives nourishment in the mother’s womb. The natural peculiarity of the Karakol valley surrounding Mount Uch Enmek, bordering the Golden Mountains of Altai, lies […]
