The Role of African Traditional Religion in the Attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 15 in Botswana: A Review of the Literature -- Handbook of Traditional Spirituality and Sustainability
Chapter
Overview
Identity
View All
Overview
Abstract
African Traditional Religion (ATR) is rich in practices that govern local people in biodiversity conservation. In ATR, ancestral spirits are said to exist in natural features like trees and hills. This has critical implications for biodiversity conservation, which is embedded into the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15. The purpose of this research is to unmask the role of ATR in the attainment of SDG 15 in Botswana. The respect given to ancestral spirits takes place in natural environments. Local people living in and around natural environments have developed conservation strategies. These strategies relate to SDG 15, which says, “protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.” SDG 15 has 12 targets and 14 indicators. In Botswana, modernity has influenced local people to doubt the cornerstone of tradition and led to the loss of respect for sacred ecological environments and, in some places, to an influx of tourism enterprises, which contribute to the degradation of biodiversity. There is a need to engage local people in reviving the conservation of biodiversity to attain SDG 15. Indicators in SDG 15 rarely mention traditional religion, and this is a missed opportunity to create consilience by linking the sciences and humanities. This study is guided by the question: What is the role of ATR in the attainment of SDG 15 in Botswana? The lessons learnt could guide stakeholders in the implementation of SDG 15 in Botswana and beyond. They could provide insights to local and academic institutions, government agencies, and lifelong learning centres on opportunities and challenges for ATR in biodiversity conservation. This study followed a qualitative research design and relied on an extensive review of secondary sources on ATR and SDG 15. The destruction of biodiversity is mainly due to anthropogenic and capitalocene influences. The sustenance of ATR has the potential to enhance biodiversity conservation. Culture is dynamic, but it is essential that traditional practices in biodiversity conservation are mainstreamed in the curriculum for the benefit of future generations.
