relate to rituals or demarcate ceremonial
grounds and shrines. Other trees are pro-
tected not for ritual reasons, but because
they are seen as valuable resources, and
people make a conscious effort to limit
their exploitation. These are some exam-
ples:
Q A fully-grownAcacia tortiliscalled
Korma(bull) is protected because it
produces highly nutritive pods con-
sumed by sheep and goats. Complete
cutting is not allowed, and at least one
of its branches is always left intact to
ensure the plant’s regeneration.^9
Q Certain trees and shrubs can only be
harvested four times in a year, during
the propitious months (Yaka– March;
Faite– June and two Somder–
September and October). These include
Erythrina burtii (wolena)a soft wood
plant used for making traditional stools;
Grewia bicolor(haroresa)and
Sansevieria robusta(algi)which pro-
vide materials for building and thatch-
ing a bridal house, and Asparagus
africanus(ergams) which provides the
material for making the bride and
groom’s milk container.
Q Other culturally important plants are
Salvadora persica(adhe), Grewia tenax
(deka) and Balanites eagyptiaca
(badh). Salvadora’stwigs are used to
brush teeth and the plant is not sup-
posed to be cut by any metallic object,
used as fire wood, or for building live-
stock enclosures. Because of its
demand for maintaining community
oral hygiene, this plant is accorded spe-
cial protection status. Its harvesting is
done by breaking off only that part of
the twig that is required. Elders say
that “ibedhel bias dhuo niti adayu nam
riga adhe budo bafatet ir jir” (instead
of taking an unpalatable drink for
breakfast, one is better off chewing on
a Salvadoratooth brush) and they refer
to Salvadoraas milk (adhe anana).
Salvadorais also used for the treat-
ment of retained after-birth in livestock.
It enjoys a similar protection status
among the Gabbra, the Samburu and
the Rendille.
Q Grewia tenaxand Balanites aegyptiaca
are useful sources of fruits, which are
extremely scarce in the desert environ-
ment. Grewiais not used for firewood
nor are its straight sticks used for con-
structing traditional huts. Balanitesis
so revered that nobody
dares to sit under its
shade before putting a
tuft of grass on his/her
head. All these plant
species have multiple
uses, including cultural
rites, food and even
medicinal applications.
Q Among the Samburu,
Zanthoxylum chalybeum(loisuk) and
Myrsine africana(seketet) are harvest-
ed / collected only by elderly men and
women because of the belief that
young people, in their hurry, destroy
the plant by uprooting them.
Q The Gabbra protect and conserve
medicinal plants through complex
taboos and mystifications. Only trained
herbalists are allowed to harvest,
process and prescribe the herbal reme-
dies. The roots of Albizia antihelmintica
(hawacho) are used as a de-wormer for
both livestock and human beings.
Uprooting and ring barking of medicinal
plants are not allowed, and herbalists
only dig one side of the plant or
remove a section of its bark by peeling
upwards to get the required portion. It
is a taboo to harvest medicinal plants
(dig out roots or de-bark) for the sec-
ond time if there is evidence of fresh
harvest. It is believed that such plants
have no potency as the first harvester
has taken away the medicine.
Q Among the Gabbra and Samburu, theConservation aas ccultural aand ppolitical ppractice
Strong ccultural
beliefs ggreatly
contributed tto
preservation aand
enhancement oof
biodiversity ccon-
servation iin tthe
drylands.