“The children don’t want to listen, the fathers need to be ready”: Perceptions and belief systems connected to the restoration and preservation of a sacred forest in Benin

• Loss of culturally indigenous and traditional ecosystems services (ES) benefits undermines SDGs for sustainable land use. • Aesthetic, spiritual, and cultural ES are underemphasized. • Forest are meant for human use, but what constitutes “appropriate use” differs widely. • ES benefits from sacred forests are intertwined and locally particular. • “Magic” and “science” can successfully collaborate. The preservation of forests is critical for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the sustainable use of land. Building on previous research, this study explores the interplay of local beliefs, cultural practices, and ecosystem services around a restored sacred forest in southern Benin. Utilizing Raymond Williams’ concept of structures of feeling , it investigates how local stakeholders’ beliefs and actions influence the forest’s restoration and maintenance. Findings include (1) a consensus that forests exist for human use despite differing perspectives on what constitutes appropriate use, (2) concerns about the ongoing loss of traditional knowledge and practices related to forest use, (3) challenges posed by modernizing perspectives that view traditional practices as backward, contrasting them with the cultural and spiritual values associated with the forest, and (4) beliefs about the forest’s role for human well-being. The study shows how structures of feeling can underpin successful negotiations and compromise support for the project’s continuing success and SDG goals around sustainable land use. Further research is needed to understand the intricate web of social, environmental, and economic structures of feeling around sacred forests, particularly aesthetic, spiritual, and social dimensions that address the erosion of indigenous knowledge and practices.