Turns Out Faith Can Actually Be a Force for Conservation

In Kenya, Christianity isn't just a Sunday thing; it's a century-long, deeply woven thread in the fabric of education, healthcare, and politics. It's a social and cultural powerhouse. Meanwhile, conservation efforts are also a major national conversation. Yet, for some reason, these two massive forces haven't really been introduced.

Which is odd, because if you're trying to save a forest, you probably want everyone on board. Especially the people who live next to it and, you know, pray there.

Unlikely Allies?

Mainstream conservation efforts have generally treated religious faith like that weird cousin no one talks about at family gatherings. But a 2024 Mongabay article by Stuart Butler actually looked at how Maasai traditional religion, Christianity, land privatization, and conservation all bump into each other in Kenya's Naimina Enkiyioo (Loita) Forest. Because, apparently, that's where we are now: finally considering that faith communities might have a say in, well, anything.

While some big players like WWF and UNEP are tentatively dipping their toes into faith-based partnerships, many Western conservationists still struggle to take religion seriously as an ally. Perhaps because for over 50 years, there's been this persistent, if incomplete, narrative that Christianity and environmentalism are essentially at odds. As if caring for the planet and caring for your soul are mutually exclusive hobbies.