League for Pastoral PeoplesThis website is dedicated to the pastoralists of the world and their itinerant spirit.
This website documents the challenges faced by pastoralists and facilitates networking among similar agencies.
Yatra diaryLPP's Ilse Köhler-Rollefson and Hanwant Singh Rathore of Lokhit Pashu-Palak Sansthan are on a yatra, or pilgrimage, through Rajasthan's prime camel-breeding areas. They hope to highlight how the decline in camel numbers is affecting people, the economy and ecology in the State, and help raise awareness about this issue. Here is Ilse's report. 14 January 2005
I am learning rapidly many things I never knew before, especially about the conservative feeding customs of camels. They either eat dry fodder, but don't graze, or they graze and don't munch the dry stuff. The big question is how many days will we be able to go without shower - unless some cooperative Rajputs bring us buckets with hot water, this will not be on. Today is rehearsal time. In the evening we have a performance of the Pabuji epic focusing on the episode in which Pabuji Rathore (a relative of Hanwant who lived about 600 years ago) brought the red and brown she-camels from Lanka to Rajasthan. We are anticipating about 100-200 guests tomorrow to see us off. Hanwant's immediate relatives from Jodhpur (only about 30 of them) are expected tonight, as are about 3 more camels and keepers, Raika leaders, including Bagdi Ram and Bhopala Ram. It will be a full house, and we don't even have a cook... More information about the yatra
Endogenous Livestock Development email groupThe ELDev discussion group enables members to exchange ideas and information on "endogenous livestock development". This is a people-centred approach that focuses on the development of livestock production, based on livestock keepers’ initiatives, their own worldview, values, knowledge, institutions, and locally available resources, as well as suitable outside resources. The group started as a discussion group on ethnoveterinary medicine, but has recently expanded to cover broader aspects of people-centred livestock development. The group has over 200 members. To join the ELDev group, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ELDev or send a blank email to ELDev-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Tierhalterrechte
Camels at the crossroadsCamels are the focus of the January 2005 edition of the New Agriculturist, an online magazine on agricultural development. Articles by New Agriculturist reporter Susie Emmett cover the decline of camels in Rajasthan in western India, and their rising popularity in Kenya; the health benefits and market potential of camel milk; and the working camels of India and the racing camels of the Gulf. Several of these articles are based on papers presented at the international conference on Saving the Camel and People's Livelihoods, held on 23-25 November at Sadri, Rajasthan. This conference was hosted by Lokhit Pashu-Palak Sansthan as part of the LIFE Initiative.
Livestock keepers' rightsOver the centuries, small-scale livestock keepers and pastoralists developed many of the world's livestock breeds. These breeds are vital stores of animal biodiversity: genes that provide resistance to pests and disease, tolerance to drought and other adverse conditions, the ability to survive in harsh environments, and other valuable traits. By maintaining their herds, small-scale livestock keepers and pastoralists are guardians of this biodiversity. But their way of life is under threat from broad-scale changes in the economy, advances in technology, and the privatization of the world's genetic heritage. As a result, many unique breeds are threatened with extinction. If we are to maintain this gene pool, it is vital to ensure that livestock keepers can continue to raise their animals and develop breeds that are adapted to a changing environment.
LPP at Nairobi biodiversity conferencePastoralists' rights to animal genetic resources were the focus of a paper presented at the Third International Conference on Biodiversity and Organic Agriculture in Nairobi in September. The paper was written jointly by Intermediate Technology Development Group veterinarian Jacob Wanyama and the League for Pastoral Peoples. Dr Wanyama presented the paper during a workshop on 25 September 2004 on biodiversity and animal husbandry. The workshop organizer was LPP member Anita Idel, Anita.Idel@t-online.de, of the organization Project Management Animal Health & Agrobiodiversity. The conference, held on 24-26 September, focused on the role of organic agriculture in protecting biodiversity. It was organized by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). For details of the programme and for registration, see www.ifoam.org
Karen Commitment to Pastoralist/Indigenous Livestock Keepers’ RightsLeaders of traditional livestock and pastoral communities, government representatives, civil society organizations, academics and livestock researchers met in Karen, Kenya on 27–30 October, 2003. They issued the Karen Commitment, calling on governments to recognize the contribution of pastoralists to food security, the environment and biodiversity, and demanding that their rights to livestock genetic resources be formally recognized. Click here for the full text of the Karen Commitment and the conference proceedings.
For more details, contact: League for Pastoral Peoples Tel. +49-6154-53642
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Our camel contingent is growing, as is our coterie of "camel drivers"
checking saddlery, feed supplies, and wondering what the hell all this
is about. This is a view of the "bad camel", but I think he is only in
rut and has to establish his supremacy over the two younger guys (who
are competing for cuddliness). None of them has come with a name, so
this has to change.
276 kb,
20 pages. Contact 
