New report reveals opportunities in Kenyan Constitution & legal system for the recognition of Sacred Natural Sites

We have released new report - "Recognising Sacred Natural Sites and Territories in Kenya"- together with Institute for Culture & Ecology and The Gaia Foundation which makes recommendations for securing greater recognition of Sacred Natural Sites and Territories, and the rights of the communities who protect these sites. Adam Hussein Adam, author of the report explains, ''Laws and policies urgently need to recognise and support the rights of communities to their traditional and customary land tenure and governance systems and recognise that Earth is not just a 'resource' but a living Being whom we need to respect.''

The aim of the Report is to inform communities, civil society, lawyers and policy makers of the importance of Sacred Natural Sites and Territories, and of the many emerging challenges that these sites and communities face. It provides An Analysis of how the Kenyan Constitution, National and International Laws can Support the Recognition of Sacred Natural Sites and their Community Governance Systems.

The report, commissioned in 2011 following the enactment of Kenya's new Constitution in 2010, examines how the Constitution, national and international laws can support the recognition of Sacred Natural Sites and their community governance systems. It makes a number of key recommendations for communities, civil society and Government to strengthen the recognition of, and support for, local Custodians of Sacred Natural Sites and their customary governance systems based on Earth Law principles, which protect these areas. It also explores some of the issues which need to be addressed in the pending Community Land Act. Download a pdf copy here: Recognising Sacred Natural Sites and Territories in Kenya. You can also read the Executive Summary Here.

September 2012 - Sacred Voices: New film shares the messages of Sacred Sites Custodians

We're pleased to share with you a brand new film which brings together the voices of eight traditional Sacred Natural Site Custodians. Sacred Voices was made during a meeting of Custodians earlier this year in Kenya. In the film the Custodians share their concerns about threats to the Sacred Natural Sites, and ask the world to listen to them and to respect their Sacred Territories. Watch the film here on our Vimeo channel. You can also read the statement which was created as part of the gathering. 

June 2012 - New film Seeds of Freedom raises African voices against GMOs

Seeds of Freedom, a landmark film from the African Biodiversity Network and The Gaia Foundation is now online. You can watch and download the film at www.seedsoffreedom.info or via youtube.

Seeds of Freedom provides a critical contribution to the global conversation about agriculture, development and GMOs. While it highlights the devastating social impacts of GM crops, it goes further than other films on the issue, to examine the roots and false assumptions of the industrialisation of agriculture in the 20th century. It brings out the voice of the rural and traditional farmers, their cultures and their diversity, and challenges the many pernicious assumptions about indigenous farming systems.

Narrated by actor Jeremy Irons. Featuring Dr Vandana Shiva, Dr Melaku Worrede, Gathuru Mburu, Liz Hosken, Zac Goldsmith MP, Henk Hobbelink, Kumi Naidoo and Caroline Lucas MP.

Please watch and share this important film! If tweeting about the film use the hashtag #seedsoffreedom so that you can join the global chorus around these critical issues!

April 2012 - New statement from Custodians of Sacred Sites

In April 2012, ABN held a second African regional gathering of Sacred Natural Sites Custodians, from four African countries (Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and South Africa). The custodians met in Nanyuki, Kenya, to share their experiences in reviving their knowledge, practices and governance systems as well as their concerns over the increasing threats to their Sacred Sites and Territories. Custodians from these countries had been working with their communities to revive the memory and the practices for protecting these sites and rebuilding local governance systems centred around these sites. Together the group drafted a Statement of the Common African Customary Laws for the Protection of Sacred Sites. They now invite you to read and share it. 

Other News...

December 2011:

The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) has just been launched at COP17. 

The report “Food Sovereignty Systems: Feeding the world, regenerating ecosystems, rebuilding local economies, and cooling the Planet – all at the same time” shows Food Sovereignty in order for African farmers to be resilient to Climate Change. Download the report here.

Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) PRESS RELEASE Monday 5 December 2011

African farmers and civil society groups in Africa are celebrating the launch of a “network of African networks”, called the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA). They have released a report emphasising that Food Sovereignty can cool the planet, while feeding the world and regenerating ecosystems.

Read full press release. 

Goal for Durban 2011: 

This will be Africa's third Conference of Parties (COP) and will be another opportunity for a region that is predominantly reliant on rain-fed agriculture to tell its story of vulnerability to global climate change.  We will demonstrate that small farmers and indigenous peoples are still feeding the continent and can continue to do with the right support and will challenge the internal and external forces that undermine our communities and their territories.  Through massive mobilisation, African civil society will amplify the message that tangible solutions to climate change are attainable.  More on AFSA can be found here.

ABN mourns the passing of Wangari Maathai

September 26th 2011

The ABN family joins the rest of the world in mourning the death of Professor Wangari Maathai. Read reflections and condolences from across the African Biodiversity Network here. 

Celebrating Professor Wangari Muta Maathai

Wangari Maathai - Reclaiming the Earth

The trees will clap for her

Committed to Justice to People and Planet

Mother nature mourns your death

Unbowed and unbeaten till the end

"We cannot tire or give up. We owe it to the present and future generations of all species to rise up and walk! " Rest in peace Professor Wangari Maathai.

NEWS - July 4th 2011 -  Kenyans protest over GM maize imports.

NEWS - June 2011 - The ABN's biennial partner's meeting took place in Kenya. View the photo gallery here!

NEWS - 30th May 2011 - Kenyan Farmers Root for Organic

NEWS 20th May 2011 - The ABN's Advocacy team have been conducting national Biosafety workshops in East Africa. Earlier this week we were in Tanzania. The story features here in the Tanzania Daily News.

NEWS - ABN partner Mphatheleni Makaulule of the Mupo Foundation, South Africa, speaks out for International Women's Day and raises awareness of the necessity of protecting sacred sites and our cultural heritage. Read the interviews in the Mail&Guardian and The Ecologist.

NEWS - The ABN has co-authored a new report on the impact of the UN's Clean Development Mechanism to mitigate climate change. Read the report CDM and Africa: Marketing a New Land Grab.

NEWS - The ABN is delighted to share a brand NEW film from our partner Melca Ethiopia. Watch The Story of Sheka Forest: Wisdom from the Past, Resilience for the Future by clicking here.