Ancient Ethics For Conservation Of Natural Resources

Ancient ethics are capable of protecting biodiversity species in particular and the environment in general as long as the local communities have an interest in them. Ancients ethics also help in regulating between men and natural environment. Ancient ethics or traditional belief system hold the ascription of supernatural power to object is called gods and goddesses.These supernatural power located in rocks,streams,ponds,trees, land or anywhere within the community and respected by the people it governs.

TOTEM or TOTEMISM – Is a belief associated with animistic religions. A totem is a traditional belief systems in the conservation of natural resources in number of communities on the Niger Delta. It concluded the taboos species in the areas.Totem can be an animal ,a plant or any other natural object believed to be ancestrally related to an ethics groups clans,or family do not eat kill or trap such totemic animals birds or fish.

TABOOS-Taboo is derived from the Polynesian term taboo,which mean “Forbidden(Adu-Gyamfi 2011).Taboos are the inhibition or banning resulting from social custom or emotional aversion, which are declared as sacred and forbidden by people.Taboos represent unwritten social rule that regulate human behavior.

Totem and taboos have been important objects within human societies serving as a commemorative object of ancestry and have promoted natural resources conservation and management over time.Various indigenous beliefs and practicals have contributed to indigenous natural resource management. Traditional institutions have played key roles in ensuring that those who broke natural resources management rule and norms were punished.These collective action in natural resources management were expressed through religious belifs and moral sanctions and a range of sacred and cultural practices.The resilience of these beliefs and practices stood the test of time in natural resource management using taboo traditional protected areas ,moral sections and rules and regulation (Millur,2004).

By – Assistant Professor – Jyoti Joshi
EVS Department
Uttaranchal (P.G.) College Of Bio-Medical Sciences & Hospital