Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

Nearly 600 new plant species were identified in the country between 1999 and 2010 [ ] 70 The sacred woods of Burkina Faso Sacred woods are protected areas in Burkina Faso and are managed according to traditional or customary rules by grassroots communities. A survey conducted on the entire national territory identified 1,206 sacred woods, 403 of which were catalogued in order to obtain a better understanding of the state and dy- namics of biodiversity. Sacred woods have been recognized as true sanctuaries of nature, and places where biodiversity thrives. The results of floristic analysis have shown a considerable diversity of plants in sacred sites, with 470 species from 284 genera and 74 families. This represents nearly 25 per cent of the national flora, against 287 species from 189 genera and 61 families in the adjacent formations, representing almost 15 per cent of national flora. Ethno-botanical surveys carried out among the local population identified several categories of sacred wood: fetish woods, cemetery woods, fetish-cemetery woods, woods of divinities, and haunted woods. The analysis of the structure of multi-spe- cies populations and of dominant species revealed stable population structures in haunted woods, cem- etery woods and fetish-cemetery woods, while population structures were degraded in fetish woods and divinities woods. It was thus estab- lished that sacred woods exemplify a local tradition that contributes to the safeguard of plant diversity. For the local populations, these woods provide religious, socio-cul- tural magical and ecological func- tions. For many, they represent an essential intermediary in commu- nicating with ancestors. They also protect against disasters and enemies, and bring about rain, prosperity, fertility, and can even cure certain diseases. The management of these sacred woods is subject to customary rules, principles and legislation. B urkina Faso is a landlocked country situated at the heart of West Africa. Covering 247,000km², the country features two phytogeographical domains: the Sahelian, characterized by steppes, and the Sudanese, with various savannah types including shrubs, trees, and grasses. The country’s hydrographic network includes a significant number of waterways among the Komoé, Mouhoun, Nakanbé and Niger River basins. Almost all of the mammals characteristic of tropical savannahs are present in the country, including elephant, lion, buffalo and roan antelope. Bobo-Dioulasso, Houet Province, Burkina Faso Eric Montfort on flickr Burkina Faso