Firecrackers explode in the crowd as performers dressed as temple spirits await the arrival of the palanquin bearing an ancient statue of goddess Mazu in the street outside the 200 year old Taoist (Da...

The entrance to the cemetery in the town of Zitacuaro, painted with monarch butterflies. Local tradition has it that the monarchs carry the spirits of the dead, especially as the monarchs arrive aroun...

A boy from the Chod folklore group, chasing a girl with a willow whip in an Easter Monday tradition, with pagan origins, when boys whip girls supposedly for good health, luck and fertility.

Children from the Chod folklore group, holding braided rods of willow. Custom has it that men or boys would spank women on Easter Monday, a Czech tradition that dates back to pagan times. In 2021 this...

Forest plants on the back of a traditional healer's motorcycle in the Tobe protected forest. Some 350 hectares in area, the forest had been severely degraded by agriculture. Over the last 35 years it...

Karin Ostertag and Dassi Bah, a Vodoun (Voodoo) adept, looking out over the Tobe protected forest. Some 350 hectares in area, the forest had been severely degraded by agriculture. Over the last 35 yea...

A fetish in the Tobe protected forest. Some 350 hectares in area, the forest had been severely degraded by agriculture. Over the last 35 years it has been restored thanks to a partnership between the...

Sunlight filters through tree leaves in the Tobe protected forest. Some 350 hectares in area, the forest had been severely degraded by agriculture. Over the last 35 years it has been restored thanks t...

A machete on a traditional healer's motorcycle in the Tobe protected forest. Some 350 hectares in area, the forest had been severely degraded by agriculture. Over the last 35 years it has been restore...

Yakubu Salifou with his yam crop on land that he says was once forest near Penesoulou. Over 90 percent of the nation's households are dependent on wood or charcoal for cooking. Together with one of th...

'Petit Robert', a traditional healer, at his home in Bougo. He relies heavily on forest plants for his work, and says they once grew in abundance nearby. But now, due to population growth, urbanisatio...

'Petit Robert', a traditional healer, gathering leaves from his stocks to prepare a potion for a client at his home in Bougou . He relies heavily on forest plants for his work, and says they once grew...

Traditional priest Yatta Chabi Ota outside the Vodoun (Voodoo) temple in Kikele on the edge of a sacred forest that is home to approximately 30 white-thighed colobus monkeys (Colobus vellerosus), one...

Abdou Dramane (52), a former hunter and now an eco-guard in the sacred forest he protects in Kikele. The forest is home to approximately 30 white-thighed colobus monkeys (Colobus vellerosus), one of t...

Looking up into a tree in a sacred forest in Kikele. The forest is home to approximately 30 white-thighed colobus monkeys (Colobus vellerosus), one of the last remaining populations of the critically...

Traditional priest Yatta Chabi Ota with a sacred tree on the edge of a sacred forest in Kikele. The forest is home to approximately 30 white-thighed colobus monkeys (Colobus vellerosus), one of the la...

Yaya Chabi Ota (45), an eco-guard in the sacred forest he protects in Kikele. The forest is home to approximately 30 white-thighed colobus monkeys (Colobus vellerosus), one of the last remaining popul...

Refuse and the remnants of a rubbish fire surround a sign on the edge of a sacred forest in Kikele indicating that fires, the felling of trees, traps, guns, crop fields, open defecation, livestock gra...

Aboudou Wassiou Dramane (23) clearing land for crops on the edge of a sacred forest in Kikele. The forest is home to approximately 30 white-thighed colobus monkeys (Colobus vellerosus), one of the las...

Yaya Chabi Ota, an eco-guard, walking the boundary of a sacred forest in Kikele. The forest is home to approximately 30 white-thighed colobus monkeys (Colobus vellerosus), one of the last remaining po...

Laissi Achade, 40, an eco-guard, rests against a tree in a sacred forest in Kikele. The forest is home to approximately 30 white-thighed colobus monkeys (Colobus vellerosus), one of the last remaining...

Laissi Achade (40), an eco-guard, walking past broken-down latrines on the edge of a sacred forest in Kikele. The forest is home to approximately 30 white-thighed colobus monkeys (Colobus vellerosus),...

The remains of a burnt tree stump on land being cleared for agriculture near Bassila. Over 90 percent of the nation's households are dependent on wood or charcoal for cooking. Together with one of the...

Alhassan Sana (68) has been accused of being a witch. 80 women accused of witchcraft stay at Kukuo Village. Many of them have mental health conditions, the reason they were accused of being witches. S...

Zinaba Shei (60) has been accused of being a witch. 80 women accused of witchcraft stay at Kukuo Village. Many of them have mental health conditions, the reason they were accused of being witches. Som...

Christian statues at Arigbo Grotto Marian pilgrimage site. A traditional Vodoun (Voodoo) fetish is found on the other side of the hill. Historically, taboos around sacred forests where vodoun spirits...

Tree roots subsuming a donation box at Arigbo Grotto Marian pilgrimage site. A traditional Vodoun (Voodoo) fetish is found on the other side of the hill. Historically, taboos around sacred forests whe...

Zinaba Shei (60) has been accused of being a witch. 80 women accused of witchcraft stay at Kukuo Village. Many of them have mental health conditions, the reason they were accused of being witches. Som...

The Arigbo Grotto Marian pilgrimage site. A traditional Vodoun (Voodoo) fetish is found on the other side of the hill. Historically, taboos around sacred forests where vodoun spirits or deities are be...

Wumbi Yindana (71) has been accused of being a witch. 80 women accused of witchcraft stay at Kukuo Village. Many of them have mental health conditions, the reason they were accused of being witches. S...

Ayishetu Fuseini (60) has been accused of being a witch. 80 women accused of witchcraft stay at Kukuo Village. Many of them have mental health conditions, the reason they were accused of being witches...

Mariama Yakubu (63) has been accused of being a witch. 80 women accused of witchcraft stay at Kukuo Village. Many of them have mental health conditions, the reason they were accused of being witches....

Desire Segla mooring a pirogue in a wetland conservation area established by the NGO GRABE Benin (Groupe de Recherche et d'Action pour le Bien-Etre/ Research and Action Group for Well-Being) in the vi...

Mariama Yakubu (63) has been accused of being a witch. 80 women accused of witchcraft stay at Kukuo Village. Many of them have mental health conditions, the reason they were accused of being witches....

Zina Wumbi (61) has been accused of being a witch. 80 women accused of witchcraft stay at Kukuo Village. Many of them have mental health conditions, the reason they were accused of being witches. Some...

Mathieu Toviehou of NGO GRABE Benin (Groupe de Recherche et d'Action pour le Bien-Etre/ Research and Action Group for Well-Being) showing the extent of a 0.67ha sacred forest grove in the village of W...

A strip of red cloth signifies that the owner of a grove of oil palm trees has protected them with curses, and that misfortune will befall would-be thieves or trespassers. The belief in witchcraft and...

Safia Wumbi (69) has been accused of being a witch. 80 women accused of witchcraft stay at Kukuo Village. Many of them have mental health conditions, the reason they were accused of being witches. Som...

Abiba Mahama (65) has been accused of being a witch. 80 women accused of witchcraft stay at Kukuo Village. Many of them have mental health conditions, the reason they were accused of being witches. So...

Lone trees that tower above the brush below stark reminders of how much forest has been lost. Often only trees with spiritual significance are left standing, while the forest that once surrounded them...

Adamu Mahama (63) has been accused of being a witch. 80 women accused of witchcraft stay at Kukuo Village. Many of them have mental health conditions, the reason they were accused of being witches. So...

Adamu Mahama (63) has been accused of being a witch. 80 women accused of witchcraft stay at Kukuo Village. Many of them have mental health conditions, the reason they were accused of being witches. So...

Felix Gbetekanlin, who estimates his age at 65, is a traditional healer and head of a committee responsible for the restoration of a heavily degraded sacred forest grove in the village of Agonme. The...

Traditional healer, Felix Gbetekanlin, who estimates his age at 65, showing forest flowers he uses in healing. He is the head of a committee responsible for the restoration of a heavily degraded sacre...

Mariama Wumbi has been accused of being a witch. 80 women accused of witchcraft stay at Kukuo Village. Many of them have mental health conditions, the reason they were accused of being witches. Some d...

Sessouhouede Anagonou, who estimates her age at 67, collecting fallen wood for her cooking fire in a degraded sacred forest grove in the village of Agonme. The grove is now being protected following a...

Azara Wumbi (61) has been accused of being a witch. 80 women accused of witchcraft stay at Kukuo Village. Many of them have mental health conditions, the reason they were accused of being witches. Som...

Sessouhouede Anagonou, who estimates her age at 67, collecting fallen wood for her cooking fire in a degraded sacred forest grove in the village of Agonme. The grove is now being protected following a...

Rigobert Dossou, who estimates his age at 60, carrying cassava tubers on the edge of a degraded sacred forest grove in the village of Agonme. The grove is now being protected following a Forestry Insp...

A lone Kapok tree (Ceiba petandra) on the edge of a sacred forest grove in the village of Agonme. Often only trees with spiritual significance are left standing, while the forest that once surrounded...

A home in the village of Agonme. The village is bordered by the vestiges of a sacred forest which is now being protected following a Forestry Inspectorate project that sought to demarcate 42 tradition...

A sign at a sanctuary for red-bellied monkeys, also known as the white-throated guenon or red-bellied guenon, created by Peter Neuenschwander in Drabo Gbo. Once thought to have been hunted to extincti...

In 1996 Peter Neuenschwander was struck by this imposing kola tree in Drabo Gbo. He purchased 40ha of the degraded forest land surrounding it and established a forest reserve and monkey sanctuary. He...

A juvenile red-bellied monkey, also known as the white-throated guenon or red-bellied guenon, at a forest sanctuary created by Peter Neuenschwander in Drabo Gbo. Once thought to have been hunted to ex...

Peter Neuenschwander in the tropical forest reserve and monkey sanctuary that he established in Drabo Gbo, Benin in 1996. Neuenschwander purchased 40ha of degraded forest and continues to restore and...

Peter Neuenschwander in the tropical forest reserve and monkey sanctuary that he established in Drabo Gbo, Benin in 1996. Neuenschwander purchased 40ha of degraded forest and continues to restore and...

Peter Neuenschwander in the tropical forest reserve and monkey sanctuary that he established in Drabo Gbo, Benin in 1996. Neuenschwander purchased 40ha of degraded forest and continues to restore and...

Peter Neuenschwander in the tropical forest reserve and monkey sanctuary that he established in Drabo Gbo, Benin in 1996. Neuenschwander purchased 40ha of degraded forest and continues to restore and...

A red-bellied monkey, also known as the white-throated guenon or red-bellied guenon, at a forest sanctuary created by Peter Neuenschwander in Drabo Gbo. Once thought to have been hunted to extinction...

Beninese scientists and conservationists Gboja Mariano Houngbedji (left) and Chrystelle Dakpogan. The couple founded local NGO ODDB (Organisation pour le Developpement Durable et la Biodiversite/ Orga...

Beninese conservationists Alfred Oga (left) and Yves Olatoundji supervising a biodiversity survey in a small sacred forest grove near the village of Dekanme along the Oueme River. What was once a for...

Forest guards Clement Zounmenou (left) and Dominic Hounton in a small sacred forest grove near the village of Dekanme along the Oueme River. What was once a forest has dwindled to a grove of less tha...

Seikpon Arakoue and his son Ignace Isatchon, members of a land-owning clan and forest protection committee, in the Tobe protected forest. Some 350 hectares in area, the forest had been severely degrad...

Kakpo Somonnin, a diviner, on the site of what is intended to be a forest education centre in the Tobe protected forest. Some 350 hectares in area, the forest had been severely degraded by agriculture...

Sebastien Bio, a member of a land-owing clan and the forest protection committee, in the Tobe protected forest. Some 350 hectares in area, the forest had been severely degraded by agriculture. Over th...

Karin Ostertag and one of her dogs on an outcrop above the Tobe protected forest. Some 350 hectares in area, the forest had been severely degraded by agriculture. Over the last 35 years it has been re...

Mathieu, armed with his shotgun, in a cashew plantation near the village of Koko. He says that although he's university-educated, he's unable to find employment and so gets by with a combination of fa...

Issossimam Assis (32), a forest guard, at his camp on the edge of the Penesoulou sacred forest. Together with colleagues posted around the perimeter of the forest he protects the forest from poachers,...

'Petit Robert', a traditional healer, at his home in Bougou. He relies heavily on forest plants for his work, and says they once grew in abundance nearby but now, due to population growth, urbanisatio...

Ali 'Baba' Biao who instigated moves to protect what remains of a sacred forest on the edge of his home village of Kikele. The forest is home to approximately 30 white-thighed colobus monkeys (Colobus...

Abdou Dramane (52), a former hunter and now an eco-guard in the sacred forest he protects in Kikele. The forest is home to approximately 30 white-thighed colobus monkeys (Colobus vellerosus), one of t...

Yaya Chabi Ota, an eco-guard in the sacred forest he protects in Kikele. The forest is home to approximately 30 white-thighed colobus monkeys (Colobus vellerosus), one of the last remaining population...

Aboudou Wassiou Dramane (23) clearing land for crops on the edge of a sacred forest in Kikele. The forest is home to approximately 30 white-thighed colobus monkeys (Colobus vellerosus), one of the las...

Appolinaire Oussou Lio, the founder of the NGO GRABE Benin (Groupe de Recherche et d'Action pour le Bien-Etre/ Research and Action Group for Well-Being), which uses a mix of the modern and the traditi...

Helene Tovitounhlan (40), standing in a bed of forest plants used in traditional healing in the village of Kotan. The forest garden is an initiative of the NGO GRABE Benin, (Groupe de Recherche et d'A...

Sedogbo Mehounou (72) is a member of a village committee responsible for a small sacred Oro secret society forest grove in the village of Kotan. Local NGO GRABE Benin (Groupe de Recherche et d'Action...

Semassa Adande is a member of a village committee responsible for a tiny sacred forest grove in the village of Wamon. The forest is important to members of the Oro cult, but as is often the case, only...

Raymond Hinnouhou Adokpo (77) is the guardian of a kapok tree (Ceiba petandra) said to be centuries old that towers above the village of Kogbome. Though the forest that once surrounded it has been all...

Felix Gbetekanlin, who estimates his age at 65, is a traditional healer and head of a committee responsible for the restoration of a heavily degraded sacred forest grove in the village of Agonme. The...

Orphee Lokossou, Head of the Department of Personnel, Materials and Finance at the Abomey-Calavi Forestry Inspectorate. He was involved in a project that sought to demarcate 42 traditional sacred fore...

Peter Neuenschwander in the tropical forest reserve and monkey sanctuary that he established in Drabo Gbo, Benin in 1996. Neuenschwander purchased 40ha of degraded forest and continues to restore and...

Supplies of leaves, bark and roots at a healer's premises. Such forest products are becoming increasingly difficult to find due to deforestation, a problem compounded by harvesting them in a manner th...

Supplies of leaves, bark and roots at a healer's premises. Such forest products are becoming increasingly difficult to find due to deforestation, a problem compounded by harvesting them in a manner th...

Using an Android tablet and mobile app to record plant biodiversity in a small sacred forest grove near the village of Dekanme along the Oueme River. What was once a forest has dwindled to a grove of...

Using an Android tablet and mobile app to record plant biodiversity in a small sacred forest grove near the village of Dekanme along the Oueme River. What was once a forest has dwindled to a grove of...

Beninese conservationist Alfred Oga supervising a biodiversity survey in a small sacred forest grove near the village of Dekanme along the Oueme River in Benin. What was once a forest has dwindled to...

Fabienne Boton (30) using an Android tablet and mobile app to record plant biodiversity in a small sacred forest grove near the village of Dekanme along the Oueme River. What was once a forest has dw...

Local youth cross the Oueme River to a small sacred forest grove on the opposite bank, where they will use Android tablets and a mobile app to conduct a biodiversity survey. What was once a forest ha...

A man rubs his eyes as local youth cross the Oueme River to a small sacred forest grove on the opposite bank, where they will use Android tablets and a mobile app to conduct a biodiversity survey. Wh...

Local youth waiting in the village of Dekanme to board pirogues and cross the Oueme River to a small sacred forest grove on the opposite bank, where they will use Android tablets and a mobile app to c...