GRABE-Benin and The Gaia Foundation are pleased to share a much awaited English translation of the 2012 Benin law recognising sacred forests and their custodian communities.
In 2012, civil society and communities successfully lobbied the Benin Government to pass a national law (Interministerial Order No.0121) for the sustainable ‘management’, legal recognition, and integration of sacred forests as protected areas. The law recognises sacred forests and sites where gods, spirits and ancestors reside, and that communities protect and govern sacred forests, and have a responsibility for implementing the ‘management’ plan for the forest.
It has been translated into English (an unofficial version), with support from the African Biodiversity Network. We hope that both French and English versions can be widely used as educational and advocacy tools, inspiring and supporting similar precedents for the recognition of Sacred Natural Sites and their custodian communities. Download the English version here: http://tinyurl.com/kphtv6a
Hello– Thank you for your work to translate Benin’s 2012 law recognizing sacred forests and their custodians. Unfortunately, the link within the webpage is not functioning to allow me to view the translated law. Instead, I receive a pop-up window that requests a username and password, which was not accepted.
If there is any chance you could send me the translated document via email, I would really appreciate it: abrady4@uoregon.edu. I am a current law student at the University of Oregon School of Law working on research regarding international indigenous sacred sites/lands policies.
Thank you very much,
Anna E. Brady