ASHLEY MASSEY MARKS
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Do Dragons Prevent Deforestation? Indigenous Belief and Conservation in a Social-Ecological System in Kiang West, the Gambia

ASHLEY MASSEY, SHONIL BHAGWAT AND JOSH FISHER
University of Oxford, United Kingdom

Over twelve percent of the Earth’s land surface is currently categorized as ‘protected.’ However, this classification does not include areas customarily conserved by indigenous beliefs and practices such as taboos, spirits and juju. The international conservation community has recently begun to recognize the contribution of customarily conserved areas to biodiversity conservation including the provision of ecosystem services inter alia pollination, watershed protection and serving as refugia for wildlife in the landscape.  This research employs a case study approach to consider the conservation implications of the belief in mythical ninkananko, or dragons, in Kiang West, the Gambia.  The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) of the ninkananko areas, a national park and forest parks is compared in Landsat images from 1984, 1988, 1991 and 2006.  Thus this study considers the efficacy of formal and informal institutions in a social-ecological system over a 22-year time scale.  Analysis of interview and social survey data identifies demographic factors correlated with whether respondents profess belief in the ninkananko and describes the current cultural resonance of the belief.

Keywords: Customarily conserved areas, deforestation, remote sensing, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, belief systems, social-ecological systems, cultural change

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  • Bio
    • LinkedIn
    • Academia
  • Conferences
    • Internation Congress for Conservation Biology (13-17 December 2021) >
      • Religion and Conservation Biology Working Group Events
    • International Congress for Conservation Biology (21-25 July 2019) >
      • Sessions on Culture, Spirituality and Conservation
    • Communities, Conservation & Livelihoods (28-30 May 2018) >
      • Culture, Spirituality and Conservation Photo Exhibition
    • ICOMOS 19th General Assembly and Scientific Symposium (11-15 Dec 2017) >
      • Culture-Nature Journey
      • Culture-Nature Journey's Declaration
    • International Congress for Conservation Biology (23-27 July 2017) >
      • Religion and Conservation Biology Working Group Events
    • IUCN World Conservation Congress Hawai'i (1-10 Sept 2016)
    • Student Conference on Conservation Science - New York (15-17 Oct 2014)
    • INTECOL (18-23 Aug 2013)
    • International Congress for Conservation Biology (21-25 July 2013)
    • Student Conference on Conservation Science (19-21 March 2013)
    • Rachel Carson & Ruth Harrison Conference
    • Biodiversity Technologies (27-28 Sept 2012)
    • 49th Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (19-22 June 2012)
    • Student Conference on Conservation Science (20-22 March 2012)
    • Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) Sacred Lands (1-3 Nov 2011)
    • Sacred Natural Sites Research Symposium (25 Oct 2011)
    • Biodiversity Beyond Protected Areas (21-22 Sept 2011)
    • Colorado Conference on Earth System Governance (17-20 May 2011)
  • Papers
  • News
  • Contact