Nature Conservation

Environmental Conservation refers to the conservation of natural features, including geographical and geomorphological features, flora and fauna.

The communities in the study areas rely heavily on the environment and due to this have devised a variety of innovative approaches to ensure that conservation practices are strictly adhered to. The most common of these practices are shift cultivation, mixed cropping, intercropping and transhumance.  Some of these innovations are peculiar to certain environments and cannot be replicated elsewhere.  Many times, conservation measures are intuitively hazard prevention measures.  For example, conservation of indigenous trees and vegetation along river banks which serves to protect water catchments and also serve as an effective measure for reducing flooding and soil erosion.

The use of indigenous knowledge for conservation tends to affect all aspects of the environment.  For instance, in many communities certain forests are designated as shrines.  These forests are in effect considered protected areas.  These protected forests have multiple functions because they also influence other elements of the environment such as biodiversity, forest conservation, land use and management.  Therefore, they serve as important frontiers for regeneration of flora and reproduction of fauna.

Conservation practices are very vital to indigenous communities in the study areas as they ensure the sustainability of natural resources in order to guarantee their availability for generations to come.  More so, maintaining the delicate balance present in the environment warrants that other practices that rely on the environment will continue to flourish, such as weather predictions and traditional medical practices.