Preserving Sacred Landscapes: Traditional and Modern Strategies for Sustaining the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove

Abstract

This research examines the multifaceted preservation strategies employed at the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of profound cultural, spiritual, and ecological significance to the Yoruba people. Through an interdisciplinary approach, the study explores the integration of traditional custodianship with modern conservation techniques, highlighting the grove’s resilience against threats such as urbanization, climate change, and cultural erosion. Key findings reveal the critical role of digital documentation in safeguarding intangible heritage, the adaptive responses of ritual practices to environmental shifts, and the growing influence of diaspora communities in transnational preservation efforts. The study underscores the grove’s success as a model for sustainable heritage management, demonstrating how legal protections, community engagement, and ecological restoration can synergize to protect sacred landscapes. By analyzing challenges and innovations, this research contributes to broader discourses on cultural sustainability, offering insights applicable to endangered heritage sites globally.