Sacred natural sites protect biodiversity in Iran

Date:
June 18, 2021
Source:
University of Go"ttingen
Summary:
How much do traditional practices contribute to the protection
of local biodiversity? Why and how are sacred groves locally
valued and protected, and how can this be promoted and harnessed
for environmental protection? Researchers have examined the
backgrounds of this form of local environmental protection in
Baneh County, Iran.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
How much do traditional practices contribute to the protection of
local biodiversity? Why and how are sacred groves locally valued and
protected, and how can this be promoted and harnessed for environmental protection? Working together with the University of Kurdistan, researchers
of the University of Go"ttingen and the University of Kassel have examined
the backgrounds of this form of local environmental protection in Baneh
County, Iran.


========================================================================== "Around the world, local communities are voluntarily protecting certain
parts of their surroundings due to religious reasons -- be it in Ethiopia, Morocco, Italy, China or India," reports Professor Tobias Plieninger,
head of the section Social-ecological Interactions in Agricultural Systems
at the universities of Kassel and Go"ttingen. Sacred natural sites are
places where traditional myths and stories meet local ecological knowledge
and environmental protection. Beyond state-based protection programs,
these form a network of informal nature reserves.

In the contested border areas between Iran and Iraq, state-run
environmental protection programs are often failing, while natural
resources are under a lot of pressure. Even in such areas of conflict,
patches of highly biodiverse woodlands still exist thanks to informal conservation traditions -- in the form of decades-old sacred natural
sites, some of which are known as the 'sacred groves'.

In the Middle East, sacred groves are quite common, but there has been
very little research into these biocultural hotspots. They usually
belong to a Mosque and serve as village cemeteries, the use of which is strictly regulated.

Even though they usually cover only a small area -- 1 hectare on average -
- they are comparatively rich in biodiversity, provide numerous ecosystem services and are of great cultural and spiritual importance to local communities.

Local people regard them as the abodes of their ancestors. Dr Zahed
Shakeri, who accompanied the project as a post-doc researcher and grew
up in the region himself, reports on the numerous myths and legends
that surround these sites and demand a careful maintenance as well as respectful behavior. "Our research group developed a fascination for the botanical treasures of these sites," Plieninger tells. In a vegetation
study, they found out that the taxonomic diversity in sacred groves is
much higher than in neighboring cultivated lands.

The vegetation composition, too, is fundamentally different here.

"The 22 sacred groves examined comprised 20% of the flora of the whole
region.

Moreover, they host multiple rare and endangered plants, and represent
complex niches for threatened animals," Shakeri reports. "Due to this
taxonomic diversity, sacred groves can serve as an important complement
to formally protected areas in the region, and as baselines in their reconstruction." Today, due to changes in customary rights, population
growth and the loss of traditional faiths, the number and condition of
such sacred natural sites are decreasing around the world. Thus, local
people's perceptions regarding sacred groves as well as the reasons
for their relatively good condition in the region were also subject of
this research.

On the basis of interviews with 205 residents from 25 villages,
the research group identified people's key motivations for the
areas' protection: in particular spiritual values, the preservation
of cultural and spiritual heritage as well as of local biodiversity
played a role here. Furthermore, the importance of taboos became clear,
which particularly prohibit the use of natural resources (for instance
forest clearance, hunting and livestock grazing) and road construction,
but also regulate the general behavior within these sites.

Even though these social values and taboos are considered relatively
stable in the province of Kurdistan, the interviewees repeatedly referred
to the threatened situation of the groves in the region. Especially
elderly and rural people, women and people with traditional lifestyles
were regarded as the holders of these values and taboos. "Protection
programs could support these groups to defend and revive their customs. At
the same time, young and urban people with modern lifestyles represent
an important target group for awareness-raising," Shakeri summarizes.

The example of sacred groves demonstrates that social dynamics and
especially cultural values deserve greater attention in environmental protection: "Such a biocultural approach to conservation that considers different worldviews and knowledge systems, could translate social
taboos and the related land-use practices into socially acceptable and environmentally effective conservation outcomes," Plieninger concludes.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Go"ttingen. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal References:
1. Zahed Shakeri, Kyumars Mohammadi-Samani, Erwin Bergmeier, Tobias
Plieninger. Spiritual values shape taxonomic diversity,
vegetation composition, and conservation status in woodlands of
the Northern Zagros, Iran. Ecology and Society, 2021; 26 (1) DOI:
10.5751/ES-12290-260130
2. Tobias Plieninger, Cristina Quintas‐Soriano, Mario Torralba,
Kyumars Mohammadi Samani, Zahed Shakeri. Social dynamics of values,
taboos and perceived threats around sacred groves in Kurdistan,
Iran.

People and Nature, 2020; 2 (4): 1237 DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10158 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/06/210618091640.htm

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