The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity commits it signatory countries to protect and encourage customary use of biological resources in accordance with traditional cultural practices that are compatible with conservation and sustainable use requirements (Article 10c). Many traditional pastoralist … Continue reading →

The Raika camel pastoralists of Rajasthan were featured on the German TV travel programme VOXTours on 26 January 2008. The programme highlighted the work of LPP project coordinator Ilse Koehler-Rollefson and LPP’s partner organization Lokhit Pashu-Palak Sansthan to develop alternative … Continue reading →

An article in the first issue of News from Drynet contains a call for rewarding pastoralists for their environmental services. The article, by LPP’s Ilse Koehler-Rollefson, stresses the need to maintain livestock diversity. “Studies have shown that drylands have produced … Continue reading →

  11 January 2008 was the first death anniversary of Bhopala Ram Raika, a famous leader of the Raika camel pastoralists of Rajasthan. Thousands of Raika gathered to mark the event, with Vasundhra Raje, Chief Minister of Rajasthan, as guest … Continue reading →

“Advocating livestock keepers’ rights”, a report of LPP’s work at the International Technical Conference on Animal Genetic Resources at Interlaken, Switzerland in September 2007, is now available. The report details LPP’s work in the build-up to the conference and during … Continue reading →

Keepers of Genes, a 28-minute documentary produced by award-winning filmmaker Moving Images, documents the role played by pastoralists in preserving animal biodiversity and the key issues confronting them today. The film accompanies a 2007 book, Keepers of genes: The interdependence … Continue reading →

Sanjeev Bhaskar, host of the BBC television programme The Kumars at No. 42, featured Rajasthan on his BBC2 travel documentary series “India with Sanjeev Bhaskar”. During his visit to the state, Mr Bhaskar met the Maharajah of Jodhpur, along with … Continue reading →

Intellectual property rights and animal genetic resources League for Pastoral Peoples and Endogenous Livestock Development, 2007 Confused about patents and how they relate to the livestock breeds? What’s the difference between a patent and a trademark? A geographical indication and … Continue reading →

A major Indian daily has reported on the Raika delegation’s lobbying visit to Europe in favour of livestock keepers’ rights. “A delegation of ‘Raikas’ (camel breeders) from Rajasthan who visited Europe recently to meet fellow pastoralists and share traditional wisdom … Continue reading →

The official report from the International Technical Conference on Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, held in Interlaken, Switzerland, on 3-7 September 2007, is available from FAO. This document includes the Interlaken Declaration on Animal Genetic Resources as well … Continue reading →