SOCIAL CULTURAL IMPORTANCE OF FORESTS

For thousand of years, forests have been associated with various communities as part and parcel of their lives. Take an example of the Ogiek community in Kenya who live in the Mau forest. The name Ogiek means ''care taker of all plants and animals''. Implying the Ogiek are foresters and conservators of nature. The sacred Kaya forest in the Kenyan coastal forest is used by the Mijikenda community in the worship of ancestors. The Ba'ka people in the Congo forest are traditionally hunters and gatherers living on bush meat, honey, wild fruits, honey, medicine among others. The Tacana people of Madidi forest in Bolivia depend on the forest for food and medicine. But these importance is on the verge of extinction due to illegal logging, poaching, climate change, construction of dams among other vices. Let us be on the fore front to protect our forests in order to safe guard our cultures for the sake of the present and future generations.