Benin: Deforestation threatens sacred forests of Voodoo believers

Benin is often regarded as the cradle of Voodoo, home to thousands of sacred forests, which believers say are vital to their religion which is rooted in nature. And with few exceptions, only those initiated are allowed to enter the sacred forests. Fabric of societyBetween 2005 and 2015, more than 20% of Benin’s forests decreased, with the rate of deforestation continuing at more than 2% a year, according to the World Bank. Between 2001 and 2012 approximately 45% of Benin’s sacred forests had disappeared or were diminished, according to the local aid group. From 2001 to 2012, we noticed that 14% of the sacred forests disappeared and 30% of the forests have been badly degraded, meaning that a huge part of their surface area decreased."