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 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 […]
With the permission of the grandmothers and grandfathers we carry this message to the national and international community...
Sacred natural sites harbor significant amounts of biodiversity and play a key role in maintaining traditional knowledge related to culture and nature. The CBD has long recognised the importance of sacred natural sites and contributed to raising awareness and improving recognition of policy makers on this subject. See for example the Akwé Kon Guidelines outlining […]
The Sacred Natural Sites Initiative will host an Academic Session and cohost one day Indigenous Forum at the International Conference of the International Society of Etnobiologists in Montpellier (France, 20-15th of May, 2012). These are links to resource documents whilst short descriptions of the sessions are provided below: 35 Sacred Lands; Session Programme 35 Sacred […]
In this video, the Sacred Natural Sites Initiative asked twelve people in twelve minutes what they think a sacred natural site is and what it means to them.
From 2 – 6 November 2011, some 30 Europeans participated in a workshop on the Spiritual Values of Protected Areas of Europe.
Sacred natural sites can be mysterious and intriguing places. How comes sacred forest groves have been maintained in India throughout times of modern day development? What social mechanisms lay at the basis of the customary governance of sacred lakes of the Niger Delta? Is the biodiversity preserved in sacred natural sites a by-product or an […]
