This study combined qualitative and quantitative research to identify and describe the key indigenous practices used to conserve/protect the sacred or “Holy” forest in Thathe Vondo, South Africa, and to examine the attitudes held by rural households regarding the value of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) in forest conservation. Key informant interviews with sacred forest custodians (n = 6), household administered questionnaire surveys (n = 160) in three villages surrounding the sacred forest and field observations were employed to collect data. Data obtained from interviews were analysed using thematic content analysis, while the questionnaires were assessed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Field observations helped to corroborate the results from the interviews and questionnaires. The study found that the key TEK that is used to conserve sacred forest in the study area includes rituals (u phasa) and customs for the protection of ancient burial grounds. Other important TEK comprises myths (lightning bird–Ndadzi and ancestral lion) and taboos involving a complete ban on activities in the forest other than the above-mentioned rituals. The study also found that the local communities have positive attitudes towards conservation of the local sacred forest. The positive attitudes equated to compliance as local communities were found not to harvest fuelwood or hunt in the sacred forest because of respect for, and fear of, different forms of TEK. These findings confirmed that TEK contributes to the conservation and protection of sacred forest in the study area.

这项研究结合了定性和定量研究，以识别和描述用于保护/保护南非撒和旺多的神圣或“圣”林的主要土著做法，并研究农村家庭对传统生态知识的价值所持的态度（TEK）在森林保护中。在神圣森林周围的三个村庄中，对神圣森林保管人（n = 6）的主要知情人访谈，家庭管理的问卷调查（n = 160）和实地观察被用来收集数据。使用主题内容分析法对从访谈中获得的数据进行了分析，而使用社会科学统计软件包（SPSS）对问卷进行了评估。实地观察有助于证实访谈和问卷调查的结果。u phasa）和保护古代墓地的习俗。其他重要的TEK包括神话（闪电鸟-Ndadzi和祖传狮子）和禁忌，这些禁忌涉及完全禁止除上述仪式以外的森林活动。研究还发现，当地社区对当地神圣森林的保护持积极态度。积极态度等同于合规，因为由于尊重和担心不同形式的TEK，人们发现当地社区不砍伐薪柴或在神圣的森林中打猎。这些发现证实，TEK有助于研究区神圣森林的保护和保护。