Sacred Forests (SF) offer vital cultural ecosystem services, providing intangible benefits rooted in spiritual beliefs and traditional practices. This study examines how practices within Sacred Forests (SF) contribute to the conservation of forest species diversity in the Moribane Forest Reserve (MFR), located in Manica Province, Mozambique, through: (i) documenting local cultural meanings and practices linked to sacred forests; (ii) comparing forest structure and species diversity in sacred versus non-sacred areas; and (iii) assessing land-use and land-cover changes in the reserve, focusing on sacred forests. This study contributes to the empirical evidence on how sacred forests support biodiversity conservation and landscape stability under increasing anthropogenic pressures and shifting land-use dynamics. A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating the Analytic-Deliberative Method (ADM), field surveys, and remote sensing analysis The ADM included semi-structured interviews with 149 households, 85 of which were headed by women, aiming to identify the cultural values associated with 13 principal SF sites. Field survey involved the establishment of 26 rectangular plots, 18 within SF and 8 in non-SF areas, to compare the composition and structure of woody species. The species accumulation curve indicated higher species richness in SF (41 species) compared to non-SF areas (38 species). Approximately 50–60% of the 10 most ecologically significant species, ranked by Importance Value Index, in both forest types are considered sacred. These include Newtonia buchananii , Millettia stuhlmannii , Diplorhynchus condylocarpon , and Bridelia micrantha , most of which are classified as species of least concern on the IUCN Red List. SF are primarily used for ritual ceremonies that seek rain during drought periods, promote agricultural productivity, protect crops, and prevent wildfires. On average, 53.84% of SF were found to be in good conservation condition, while 30.76% were in poor condition, and 15.38% in moderate condition. Remote sensing analysis revealed ongoing cropland expansion and forest loss, predominantly in non-SF areas, with deforestation peaking in 2020. Sacred forests show higher species richness and better conservation status than non-sacred areas. We conclude that SF embodies cultural heritage, fosters conservation, and faces growing deforestation pressures that threaten biodiversity and traditional practices. Therefore, we recommend recognizing SF, integrating cultural values into conservation strategies, promoting sustainable livelihoods, and supporting research to strengthen biodiversity conservation.
Francisco et al. (Fri,) studied this question.