Globally, it is widely acknowledged that we need to find more sustainable ways of disposing the dead bodies of our loved ones. Yet, there is hardly any publications in the development literature about ways in which researchers and development workers can engage and support communities towards the changes in attitudes, emotions and feelings that are required to let go of traditional religious beliefs and rituals in regard to unsustainable funeral practices. This paper uses an autoethnographic approach to narrate the story of Botoku, a rural community in south-east Ghana's ongoing search for sustainable burial practices and the associated community conflicts involved. At issue is the challenge of sustainability, how to ensure that burial practices meet the land usage needs of the present populations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs for land. The paper highlights the importance of good negotiation and mediation skills that are underpinned by a deep understanding of local context, norms and values, in an attempt to engage and support communities to change deeply engrained practices such as funerals and burials
