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Poro & Sande Society Sacred Groves (Liberia)
Across Liberia (forest-zone ethnic groups)
Liberia
Active
Regional cluster
- Location
- Across Liberia (forest-zone ethnic groups)
- Coordinates
- ~6.4°N 9.4°W
- Elevation
- Lowland rainforest
- Size
- Many village groves (forest clearings)
- Age / Founded
- Ancient (secret-society tradition)
- Status
- Active
- Deity & Religion
- Poro (male) & Sande (female) society spirits; Liberian traditional religions
- Community & Guardians
- Kpelle, Bassa, Gola, Loma & other Liberian peoples
- Vernacular name
- Poro 'bush' / Sande grove
- Record type
- Regional cluster
Cultural practices & uses
Initiation seclusion, governance & education; taboo-protected groves
Plant species
Upper Guinean rainforest remnants
Biome & fauna
Upper Guinean forest (near Sapo NP, 180,363 ha — pygmy hippo, forest elephant, chimpanzee)
Threats & protection
Society taboos protect groves; deforestation pressure
Source
Poro / Sande society (Britannica/Wikipedia); Fauna & Flora — Liberia/Sapo