Sacred Forests, Commodification, and Ecological Ethics in the Niger Delta

How do sacred forests—long revered as the dwelling places of ancestors and spirits—sustain both ecological integrity and human wellbeing in the Niger Delta? Can indigenous custodial practices survive the pressures of extractive industries and market-driven commodification? This article explores these questions through a qualitative case study of the Edumanom Forest Reserve, examining how African Traditional Religion (ATR) metaphysics, taboos, and communal governance shape local environmental ethics. Using ecological description and interpretive reading of ATR rituals, the study reveals that sacred forests function as living institutions, fostering biodiversity, social cohesion, and human flourishing. Yet, these protections are increasingly undermined by the logic of commodification, reframing nature as a tradable resource rather than a shared ethical responsibility. Drawing on the Capability Approach and ecological ethics, the paper argues that centering indigenous metaphysics in environmental governance offers a moral and practical alternative to purely market-oriented conservation. The study concludes by recommending legal pluralism for custodial rights, capability-focused environmental assessments, and dialogical forums that restore the voice of custodial communities, highlighting the ethical imperative of reconciling ecological integrity with human flourishing in contemporary Nigeria.