'God is my forest': Xhosa cultural values provide untapped opportunities for conservation

Cocks, Michelle L; Dold, Anthony P; Vetter, Susan M

Title: 'God is my forest': Xhosa cultural values provide untapped opportunities for conservation
Creator: Cocks, Michelle L
Creator: Dold, Anthony P
Creator: Vetter, Susan M
Date Issued: 2012
Date: 2012
Type: text
Type: article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/141198
Identifier: vital:37952
Identifier: DOI: 10.4102/sajs.v108i5/6.880
Description: In South Africa conservation is still largely framed in terms of Western scientific values, with a focus on material benefits to local communities, whilst little is known about the intangible values local people attach to nature and biodiversity. We explored the cultural, spiritual and emotional relationships with nature expressed by Xhosa people, within the MaputalandPondoland-Albany Hotspot, as well as the activities that mediate this relationship. A descriptive research approach was applied to document the emotions, meanings and values associated with landscape elements. This approach included group and individual interviews and ‘walk-in-the-woods’ interviews and participatory mapping exercises. Respondents portrayed a strong, although not always easily articulated, appreciation for nature, especially ihlathi lesiXhosa (‘Xhosa forest’, vegetation types within the Thicket Biome).
Format: 8 pages
Format: pdf
Language: English
Relation: South African Journal of Science
Relation: Cocks, M.L., Dold, T. and Vetter, S., 2012. 'God is my forest': Xhosa cultural values provide untapped opportunities for conservation. South African Journal of Science, 108(5-6), pp.52-59.
Relation: South African Journal of Science volume 108 number 5-6 52 59 2012 1996-7489
Rights: Publisher
Rights: Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the South African Journal of Science Copyright and Permissions Statement (https://www.sajs.co.za/copyright-permissions)

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Vetter, Susan M (Assoc Prof)

Cocks, Michelle Linda (Assoc Prof)

Dold, Anthony Patrick (Mr)

RU Department of Anthropology

RU Department of Botany

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