In this episode, we discuss in detail the Kaya sacred forests of Kenya in east Africa. These forests, located in coastal Kenya, have been protected and conserved by the Mijikenda indigenous communities since the 16th century.  In the Mijikenda language, 'Kayas' mean 'homestead'. These forests are home to some of Kenya’s rare biodiversity. They are both parts of a global biodiversity hotspot and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, today, they are one of the last remaining sacred forests of the country.

International Institute of Environment and Development (IIED) in collaboration with Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KFRI) and the local indigenous communities are working on a concept called the ‘Biocultural Heritage Territories’ (BCHT) to save the disappearing Kaya Forests and age-old practices and beliefs of the Mijikenda communities.

So, can BCHT save Kenya’s last remaining Kaya sacred forests?

Episode contributors:

Chemuku Wekesa, PhD, Landscape Ecologist, Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KFRI)

Krystyna Swiderska, Principal Researcher (agriculture and biodiversity), Natural Resources, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)

Audio credits:

Episode intro outro music:  Love and Inspire: Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

African Moon by John Bartmann is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License.

Bountiful by Podington Bear is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.

Mijikenda welcome song: Recorded by Chemuku Wekesa, PhD, KFRI.

Sound Effects:

Africa, Zaire, Street, Kasigani, Some Traffic--Bike Bells, Car Horns, Footsteps And Distinct Speech: BBC SFX Archives (copyright-free)

Africa, Cameroun, Birds and Insects, Mid Morning, Rainforest: BBC SFX Archives (copyright-free)