Wetlands and the Islamic perception of nature

This chapter appeared in the same book as the previous blog post about the Environmental education in Sidi Boughaba (this is useful to compare what we should do and what we actually do).

Benessaiah, N. 2011. Wetlands and the Islamic perception of nature. In: Papayannis, T. & Pritchard, D. E. (2011), Culture and Wetlands in the Mediterranean: an Evolving Story, Athens, Med-INA. pp. 362-371.

Abstract:

Islam is the main religion in the southern Mediterranean, and for this reason it is important for the Mediterranean Wetlands Initiative and any other organisation working towards the conservation of natural resources, to examine its perspectives, principles and laws concerning the environment. A better understanding of Islamic traditions can lead to more effective, locally-tailored plans for the conservation of water and wetlands. Water is a central theme in the Qur’an, in religious practice, in Islamic Law – Shari’a and in Islamic society at large. Each of these aspects is examined in this paper and analysed according to the four main pillars under which environmental protection can be understood in Islam. Traditional resource management systems like the Hima, Haram and Waqf which provide people with specific instruction on how to use natural resources are also discussed. Particular attention is given to the oases, a characteristic type of wetland in the southern Mediterranean region, and to their water management system in particular, which reflects not only the religious teachings of Islam but also the essence of wise use of water. Effective management of natural resources needs to take into consideration the religious background and cultural values of the population and the site in question. In the case of wetlands in the southern Mediterranean region, they often have religious significance through their connection with saints, for example the Bahiret el Bibane and Ghar El Melh lagoons in Tunisia. This provides wetland managers and conservation authorities with the opportunity to utilise this religious and cultural significance to promote the wiser use of the wetland. This can then become a tool to involve the local population by reinforcing a feeling of connection and greater personal responsibility as well as promoting ecological and cultural tourism.