Question

. “Some religious belief systems were useful in the conservation of wetlands prior to formal initiation of wetland conservation measures”. Discuss this statement in relation to the management of Sakumo Lagoon (Sakumo II Lagoon) in Ghana.

Answer 1

Coastal lagoons in Ghana provides important benefits to the local communities that exist around them. The conservation of these lagoons and the resources provide was based on the religious beliefs and superstitions associated with fetishes and enforced by taboos.

The Sakumo lagoon is a brackish water lagoon situated on the coastal road between the cities of Accra and Tema, and the surrounding flood plain of lagoon is traditionally owned by the Tema and Teshie people, but now it is under the jurisdiction of the Tema Development Corporation.This lagoon was regarded as a fetish by the local community, and in association with the lagoon fetish, the Black heron, Egretta ardesiaca, was considered as sacred bird. Therefore, the capturing or killing of Black heron was considered as forbidden.

The rules and taboos associated with the lagoon includes the prohibition of draw net uses, prohibition of fishing from daybreak to 12 noon on Fridays (which was considered a sacred day for the lagoon fetish), and closed season for fishing from October/November to the end of March (but, crab collection was not affected by these rules). This rules and taboos were enforced by the local community and however, they had no legal backing.

Like religious strategies involved in Sakumo lagoon protection, many other religious belief systems were useful in the conservation of wetlands.