ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on case studies drawn from field experiences of authors in Benin and Cameroon. A close examination of the historical trajectories and of the functions of these sites shows that multiple forms of vegetation cover, of religious practices and ritual prescriptions, and management practices are indeed intertwined in these specific places. In the last decades, some new socio-political dynamics grounded on discourses about tradition revival, biodiversity conservation and cultural heritage have added new layers of meaning and functions to these sites. The chapter presents examples of wooded sanctuaries in two different contexts: southern Benin and Western Cameroon. In both countries, sacred groves are generally closely linked with a wide range of historical events, from the foundation of villages to specific episodes related to independence wars or more recent political troubles, while population movements and the resulting settlement and resettlement processes have affected the local geography of wooded sanctuaries.
