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Forêt Sacrée Kouvizoun Adakplamè-Ewè, Bénin


Description

Full name of the ICCA: Sacred Forest Kouvizoun Adakplame-Ewe

Geographical area and location: It straddles the villages of Adakplamè, Ewè and Edénou in the Arrondissement of Adakplamè in the commune of Kétou in Bénin.

Identity of the local community / indigenous peoples that live there: The first inhabitants of the forest are the Mahi from Paouignan, who first arrived there around 1600. Today, there is still a variety of ethnicities, dominated by the Mahi and the Nago.

Population size of community: At the time of the last census in 2013, the district of Adakplamè had a population of 20,218 (9,944 men and 10,274 women).

What is community’s main livelihood? Agriculture constitutes the main subsistence of the inhabitants, including the production of maize and cassava.

What is special or unique about the ICCA? Not only is it the largest sacred forest in Bénin, but the history of the creation of the Adakplamè village is linked to that of the Kouvizoun forest ("Tozoun" in the local language, translating to "community forest"). The forest has, in the past, played an important role in the settlement of the municipality of Kétou.

History and Activities

Establishment date and brief history

The first inhabitants of the Sacred Forest Kouvizoun Adakplame-Ewe were the Mahi from Paouignan, who arrived circa 1600. Kouvizoun became a place of refuge for the Mahi from the successive raids of the kings of Danxomè. The Mahi crossed the Ouémé River to shelter in the forest and escape death (hence the name of “Kouvizoun” for the forest, meaning “Forest of those who are destined for death”). According to local tradition, the two brothers who led this Mahi population located to different parts of the region. The brother called Bogninou settled in Oklidji and the brother called Anato Koto settled in Hounkon. One day, Anato Koto saw wild animals devouring his property and his family. He went looking for help and met his brother Bogninou, to whom he told his difficulties. Bogninou made Anato Koto a grigri charm out of two branches from a tree called "adakpla", along with the incantation that "the bird does not take its prey under the tree adakpla". The grigri was then buried at the entrance of the village. From then on, life was peaceful for Anato Koto and his children, without the threat of wild animals. This is why Anato Koto named the village Adakplamè. As a token of gratitude, Anato Koto chose Bogninou to be the traditional chief of the entire village and gave himself the privilege of being the chief of the Kouvizoun Forest. Since then, the management of the Forest has been entrusted to the descendants of Anato Koto and the royalty entrusted to the descendants of Bogninou. Management of the Forest is regulated by religious principles which materialise through a set of prohibitions, prescriptions and ritual practices which have long allowed their protection and regeneration.

How did the establishment happen?

The inter-ministerial decree n° 0121 / MEHU / MDGLAAT / SGM / DGFRN / SA of 16/11/2012 has set the conditions for sustainable management of the sacred forest. Although there is no legal act recognising the ICCA at municipal or national level, the decree paved the way to establishing this ICCA.

What was the aim?

As the ICCA is not yet established (it is still in the proposed phase), it does not yet have a finalised purpose. Nevertheless, the communities are working to safeguard the sacred character of the deities and all the forest that protects it. Indeed, the primary goal is to maintain the integrity of the sacred forest and to preserve the cultural and natural values it shelters.

What activities are currently underway?

The Project for the conservation and enhancement of the natural and cultural heritage of sacred forests in the towns of Kétou and Adja-ouèrè in Bénin, which strengthens the governance system of the ICCA, management of the ICCA and initiatives for the economic and social development of riparian populations.

Conservation

What are the community conserving?

The community are conserving biodiversity and the wealth of threatened species that rely on this forest, including the African whitewood tree (Triplochiton scleroxylon), the Kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra), and the African Teak tree (Milicia excelsa), among other species. These are highly threatened species in the region’s ecosystems. They also conserve a rich avian fauna and work towards the restoration of the ICCA’s wild fauna (Tantalum, mona, patas, bush pig, warthog, tree hyrax, civet, duiker). These species have almost disappeared because of various anthropogenic pressures on their habitat, such as poaching. The sacred forest Kouvizoun Adakplamè-Ewè is an important historical and cultural temple. It shelters several sacred places of worship, as well as many deities. It is also the residence of the gods and ancestors who protect the community.

Are there any specific (endangered) species being protected?

African mahogany (Afzelia africana), West African albizia (Albizia ferruginea), dry zone mahogany (Kaya senegalensis), African kino (Pterocarpus erinaceus), African birch (Anogeissus leiocarpus), the Kintampo rope squirrel (Funisciurus substriatus), and the red-cheeked rope squirrel (Funisciurus leucogenys).

Does the site provide ecological services?

The site supplies a number of non-timber forest products, including medicinal plants, water, and honey. The ICCA also provides a site for cultural and religious ceremonies (Oro, sakpata etc.), as well as for tourism. The forest is located on a plateau, which plays an important role in improving the chemical quality of the water. The water runs through the forest, which purifies the water and makes it more suitable for consumption. Tree roots slow the water flow, which allows the water to accumulate and provides the community with plentiful water resources.

What impacts has conservation had so far?

The conservation measures underway in the ICCA have directly and positively impacted the health of the ecosystem services, such as improved water quality and protein availability, increased animals from controlled hunting, securing cultural practices, and controlling floods.

How are conservation impacts measured or monitored?

There is not yet a sustainable mechanism or adequate practical arrangements for measuring the impacts of conservation in the ICCA. The only acceptable tool to assess conservation impacts (the forest Simplified Development and Management Plan, or PAGS) needs to be updated. Apart from excessive vegetation fires, cutting timber and the uncontrolled harvesting of non-timber forest products by communities, there is a certain degree of awareness at community level about the need to conserve forest resources.

Who is affected by these impacts?

The residents of the villages of Ewè and Adakplamè are the direct beneficiaries of these conservation measures. However, the entire municipality of Kétou benefits from the ecosystem services provided by the ICCA.

Management and Governance

How does the community manage the area?

Customary authorities and traditional dignitaries are the main governance authorities at the ICCA level. The dignitaries collaborate with the local authorities (the district chief and the village chief) on issues related to sustainable management of natural resources from the ICCA. For management efficiency, these actors have set up a Local Management Body which is the operational group for implementing actions.

Is there government support or laws to assist management?

There is the inter-ministerial decree n° 0121 / MEHU / MDGLAAT / SGM / DGFRN / SA of 16/11/2012, which fixes the conditions for sustainable management of the sacred forest in the Republic of Bénin. There is also the decree n° 2017- 331 of 6th July 2017, defining the categorisation of protected areas (category III) by the Republic of Benin according to the definition of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

How are the boundaries enforced?

The Sacred Forests Integration Project in the System of Protected Areas in Benin has expanded the Kouvizoun ICCA. The Integration Project did not really achieve the goal of demarcating the sacred forest. However, the support project for the conservation and enhancement of the natural and cultural heritage of sacred forests in the municipalities of Kétou was able, via a participatory approach, to expand the perimeter of the forest.

What threats and problems does the area face? What attempts are being made to overcome these?

The ICCA faces increased biodiversity decline, largely due to agricultural pressures and vegetation fires, as well as occasional instances of illegal hunting. In addition to lacking a legal recognition document for the forest, Kouvizoun lacks support to ensure the physical integrity and security of the forest boundaries. The ICCA also needs policy supporting the communities in undertaking other conservation initiatives. To overcome these issues, a local body has been established to manage the ICCA. The communities have installed a medicinal plant garden and are working to restore the fauna, flora and ecosystems in the ICCA. A collection of local forest management rules has been written and is currently in the editing phase. The communities are promoting ecotourism, and the forest is being registered in both the ICCA Registry and the World Database on Protected Areas. The fund FAEID is also being used to support communities in engaging in income-generating activities.

Have any awards or recognition been received?

Not yet

What impacts has the area had on the community?

The forest has provided local communities with several forms of substance, including non-timber forest products such as medicinal plants, vegetable sponges and brushes. It also has provided the communities with cultural and religious resources (for example for traditional ceremonies or sacred sites), as well as commercial values (e.g. small fauna as a source of animal protein).

How is the community directly involved with the conserved area?

A Local Management Body (intermediary between the populations, the guarantors of tradition and the various actors of civil society) was set up to ensure the management and governance of this sacred area. The Management Body involves local communities in reforestation activities (for example, with installing the garden of medicinal plants), controls access to the forest’s resources, and monitors and maintains the forest’s boundaries.

What are the next steps and lessons learned?

What are the planned future activities?

Future activities will include registering the ICCA in the World Database on Protected Areas. The national designation process is being conducted simultaneously with the registration to the WDPA database (in progress). Currently, a request for legal recognition is being evaluated at the town hall of Kétou (territorial authority). A collection of local forest management rules will also be published. The Fund FAEID will provide support to communities in the promotion of income-generating activities. Eco-tourism will be organised and promoted, and tourist circuits and certain sacred sites to promote ecotourism will be developed. The physical boundaries of the ICCA will also be determined.

What is needed next?

The forest’s legal recognition documents are needed to allow official recognition of the Kouvizoun Adakplamè-Ewè sacred forest as a Protected Area at the national level. This objective is complementary to registering the ICCA in the World Database on Protected Areas. The ICCA needs technical and financial support to determine and secure the perimeter its boundaries, as well as to install other medicinal plant gardens in degraded areas. The ICCA would like to engage in activities which generate income and respect for the forest. The ICCA also plans to build the capacity of its Local Management Body and supporting teams.

What lessons have been learned so far?

Better involvement of customary authorities (kings and their courts), dignitaries and religious groups has helped communities conserve and restore the ICCA.


This case study was originally published by UNEP-WCMC in December 2020. The content was provided by the custodians of this ICCA. The ICCA has been self-declared and has been through a peer-review process to verify its status. More details on this process can be found here. The contents of this website do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UN Environment Programme or WCMC.