The Bende, Tongwe and the Ha people, who identify themselves as forest people, are farmers growing crops and raising some livestock. The farmers of this richly forested landscape practice their lifestyle in well watered valleys, and have always cared for the forests that cover the mountains around their communities - they treat the Mkuyu Fig (Ficus sycamorus) and Strangler Fig (Ficus thonnigii) trees as sacred. This farming lifestyle depends on healthy forests for water catchment, healthy soils and other products and services, such as medicines, honey and small amounts of firewood and building poles.