African Traditional Knowledge Systems and Biodiversity Management

Abstract

There is a link between African Traditional Knowledge Systems and the management of Biodiversity. These have been passed over from one generation to the next through oral tradition. The lack of documentation of these systems of managing biodiversity has led to the existence of a gap between the scientifi cally based systems of managing biodiversity and the traditional methods that have been in existence for years. These are based on traditional ecological knowledge, which is largely based on traditional beliefs, cultures, superstition and social traditions. Notably, while African traditional methods of managing biodiversity have succeeded in promoting the conservation of certain elements of biodiversity, they have failed to develop conservation knowledge and awareness among societies, because people avoided harvesting resources from sacred areas out of fear rather than with a declared purpose and interest in conservation.