How Vodun spiritual practices help preserve Benin's mangroves and their carbon storage

In Benin, the ancient Vodun religion is being used to protect mangrove forests, which are critical carbon sinks. Mangrove cover in the country dropped 29% between 1995 and 2015 due to logging, salt production, and farming. Local communities, working with the NGO Eco-Benin, designate sacred areas where cutting trees or fishing is forbidden under spiritual law. Over the past decade, this approach has preserved about 500 hectares of mangroves. The Beninese government officially recognized Vodun as a national religion in 1996 and now supports these traditional conservation frameworks alongside official enforcement. The partnership blends cultural authority with environmental goals, offering a model for community-led conservation in coastal ecosystems. For anyone tracking nature-based carbon solutions, this shows how local governance can deliver measurable protection for high-carbon habitats.