Land use and land cover changes in the Mijikenda Kaya sacred forests of Coastal Kenya: impacts on culture and conservation of UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Over the past three decades, Kenya's sacred Mijikenda Kaya forests—part of UNESCO World Heritage Sites—have experienced dramatic ecological and cultural decline. A study reveals that forest cover in Kaya Kauma and Kaya Rabai has shrunk by 46.0 ha (10.9%) and 895.7 ha (134.8%), respectively, while agricultural land, settlements, and mining expanded significantly. Key drivers include population growth, illegal logging, and the erosion of traditional cultural practices, which have privatized sacred ritual areas. The research combines remote sensing data with interviews and field observations to highlight the urgent need for integrated conservation strategies that address both ecological degradation and the loss of indigenous knowledge.

Fungomeli, M., Mensuro, G., & Kioko, E. (2025). Land use and land cover changes in the Mijikenda Kaya sacred forests of Coastal Kenya: impacts on culture and conservation of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6119007/v1