Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove

Dedicated to Osun, the Yoruba goddess of fertility, the area was established more than four centuries ago and is the region's largest surviving sacred grove. The Osun River meanders through the protected area, with sanctuaries and shrines erected along its course. In the twentieth century, the New Sacred Art movement invigorated efforts to protect the grove, and modern sculptural additions enhance the spiritual significance of the site.

Led by Susanne Wenger (1915–2009), an artist and Yoruban priestess, the New Sacred Art movement transformed Osogbo into a hub of artistic activity and new ideas about contemporary African art. In 2005, the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In January 2014, one of the shrines within the grove was restored by craftsmen using traditional materials and building techniques. During the following year, various improvements were made at the site. The number of annual river cleanings increased from one to four, resulting in significant improvements in water quality, and plant regeneration and replanting projects drastically increased the diversity of tree and shrub species in the forest.

Conservation management, cultural tourism, and disaster risk management plans were prepared, and a higher percentage of funds from the grove’s annual festival were allocated to conservation work.