What Are Sacred Forests?

Sacred Forests (SFs) are unique social-ecological systems (SESs) found across the globe, deeply intertwined with the cultural, spiritual, and ecological practices of local communities. Frequently located in some of the world’s most biodiverse regions, Sacred Forests hold high conservation value, yet they remain underrepresented in forest management and landscape ecology research.

These forests are not just ecological hotspots—they are cultural and spiritual landscapes, often linked to traditional belief systems, religious rituals, historical events, and burial practices. The SESs of SFs support locally grounded adaptation strategies rooted in Indigenous knowledge and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). Such knowledge systems help communities manage multiple environmental and social stresses, including water management, health, agriculture, energy, food security, and settlement planning.

Research Background and Focus

Building on my doctoral research (2018–2022) in Senegal, which explored the dynamics of ecovillage transitions, the SPIRAL project adopts a transdisciplinary and comparative approach to study Sacred Forests across diverse geographical and cultural contexts. By analyzing multiple case studies, SPIRAL seeks to understand how ecospiritual practices and cosmoecologies shape the governance and resilience of these forests.

Aim and Future Perspectives

The main goal of SPIRAL is to document the diversity of cosmoecologies and ecospiritual practices in Sacred Forests worldwide. By doing so, the project aims to inform a paradigm shift in sustainable forest conservation, integrating biocultural knowledge into modern landscape management. Ultimately, SPIRAL seeks to highlight the multidymensional importance of Sacred Forests, ensuring these critical landscapes are preserved for future generations.