Conflicting Religious Practices and Environmental Resource Conservation in the Ngas Community of Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

Various religious practices in the world could be very helpful towards environmental resource conservation. This survey investigates the environmental conservation ethics of African Traditional Religious practices of Ngas land in Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. The researchers purposely selected 15 villages from Kabwir District of Kanke Local Government Area for the survey. Issues investigated include the role of traditional religious practices of the Ngas people in identifying and designating some locations as "protected areas" and how the advent of Christianity, a newly introduced religious practice, led to systematic and gradual disappearance of these protected areas. Findings show that the traditional religious practices significantly contributed towards environmental resource conservation in almost all the Ngas communities. These protected reservoirs contain biodiversity (flora and fauna), caves and scenic formations which are strictly prohibited from human exploitation as part of environmental resource protection. The advent of Christianity as a new faith however, disapproved of these protected enclaves for the fact that they serve mainly the idol worshipers. These protected areas are therefore on the verge of disappearance. A very good number of them have now been exposed to intensive exploitation for farming, fuel wood harvest, timber extraction, grazing, hunting and bush burning. Against these findings, the researchers strongly recommend that Christianity, a new religion should imbibe the ethics of environmental protection through the modern day laudable afforestation programmes. Such areas could be protected and used for tourism, recreation, research and education among other benefits. Further research on the disappeared species of flora and fauna, and the disappearing shrines or sacred lands have been recommended.