Cultural Significance of Ecosystem Services in Traditional Festivals Performance in Rural Northern Ghana | Chapter 1 | New Ideas Concerning Arts and Social Studies Vol. 4

 

Cultural ecosystem services, such as spiritual, religious, or heritage values, are often intangible and cannot easily be quantified or assigned a monetary value. These values are subjective, deeply personal, and vary across individuals and communities. In simple words, Cultural ecosystem services are the non-material benefits that people obtain from ecosystems. Recreational experiences, religious values, educational opportunities, cultural heritage, and traditional practices and knowledge associated with natural environments, such as indigenous ways of managing land and resources. These services enhance the quality of life of rural people and contribute to their well-being and rural livelihood. In Northern Ghana, communities along the White Volta River basin celebrate traditional festivals and the rich cultural heritage with ecosystem services of the rich and luxuriant vegetation. There is little documentation linking the livelihoods of the people, the role that ecosystem services play in their livelihood practices, and their festival celebrations. Understanding the links is important for a comprehensive appreciation of people's conservation-related behaviours. The objective of the study, therefore, was to document how the rural people rely on the ecosystem services found in the White Volta River basin for their livelihoods and in the celebration of their festival. Customary laws, traditional social structures, and authorities regulate ecosystem services at the rural local level with chiefs and sub-chiefs, community members ensuring sustainable use of resources in the ecosystem under their jurisdiction. Focus Group Discussions were undertaken with a checklist on the thematic areas. Key informant interviews were conducted, and qualitative data were collected. The type of provisioning ecosystem services was noted. The data, mainly qualitative data, were analysed using Thematic and Content analysis. Common activities found across all the festivals were identified as prayers to the gods and ancestors for good harvests and blessings. Ritual performances at sacred sites, and the maintenance of social cohesion and the transmission of cultural values. Cultural ecosystem services are often underrepresented in policy and governance frameworks, which tend to prioritise provisioning or regulating services that are easier to quantify. Cultural practices tied to ecosystems may not be adequately considered in land use planning, resource management, or conservation efforts. Ecosystem services not only sustain traditional festivals in Ghana but also preserve the culture and spiritual values, and improve the economic status of the people, highlighting the interdependence of people and nature.

 

 

Author(s) Details

Bizoola Z. G.
University for Development Studies, Box 1882, Ghana.

 

Lolig V
University for Development Studies, Box 1882, Ghana.

 

Felix Y. T. Longi
University for Development Studies, Box 1882, Ghana.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/nicass/v4/3871