Raika Samaj Panchayat. 2009. Raika biocultural protocol. Lokhit Pashu Palak Sansthan, Sadri, Rajasthan, India. This declaration by the Raika pastoralists of Rajasthan, India, details the livestock breeds they have developed, their traditional knowledge about their animals, and their lifestyle in … Continue reading →

  LPP is co-organizing two meetings in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India, on 24 and 25 February 2010 to discuss the future of livestock keepers. National Consultation for Saving the Camel, 24 February Organized by Lokhit Pashu-Palak Sansthan and the Jaisalmer Camel … Continue reading →

Biocultural community protocols document livestock keepers’ contribution to conserving the environment and their livestock breeds. Indian filmmaker Moving Images has made two videos on this new approach. Video 1: Biocultural protocols and access and benefit sharing Video 2: Developing biocultural … Continue reading →

Australian photographer Tim Cushan visited Rajasthan to photograph camels in India’s desert state. He was hosted by LPP’s Ilse Koehler-Rollefson and Hanwant Singh of Lokhit Pashu-Palak Sansthan. See his beautiful photo essay here.

Many local livestock breeds and minor species are in decline and may be lost because they cannot compete with high-yielding exotic breeds. Conserving these breeds is important: many have unique traits, such as hardiness and disease resistance, that are vital … Continue reading →

LPP and the LIFE Network held a side-event during the meeting of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture on 19 October 2009, entitled Biocultural/Community Protocols and a Code of Conduct on Livestock Keepers’ Rights. The session focused … Continue reading →

LPP’s founder and project coordinator Ilse Koehler-Rollefson has started a blog detailing her work with and for pastoralists. The blog is hosted by Rolex Awards (Ilse is a 2002 Laureate). Read it at http://blog.rolexawards.com/author/ilse/

Smallholder farmers and pastoralists fulfil an invaluable yet undervalued role in conserving biodiversity. They act as guardians of locally adapted livestock breeds that can make use of even marginal environments under tough climatic conditions and therefore are a crucial resource … Continue reading →

This article (in German) in the July 2009 issue of the nature magazine Natur+Kosmos describes the work of LPP’s Ilse Koehler-Rollefson and Hanwant Singh Rathore, director of LPP’s partner organization in Rajasthan, Lokhit Pashu-Palak Sansthan.

Ilse Köhler-Rollefson, H. S. Rathore and E. Mathias. Tropical Animal Health and Production. 22 Nov 2008. Abstract In South Asia, and throughout the developing world, the predominant official approach to livestock development has been improvement of production by means of … Continue reading →