During the International Grasslands Conference held in Delhi from 20-24th November, LPP organised a special session on pastoralism in India, in collaboration with the Rainfed Livestock Network.

It included two keynote presentations by Ilse Köhler-Rollefson on Ecologically and Socially Sustainable Livestock Development in Marginal Areas  and by Saverio Krätli on Valuing Variability: New perspectives on climate resilient drylands development.

Other presentations covered the significance of sheep pastoralism in providing organic manure (Dr. Bala Athani), the role of goat, pig and buffalo pastoralism in Odisha in providing food security to the poor  (Dr. Balaram Sahu), on pastoralism in the Banni Grasslands of Kutch (Ramesh Bhatti) and the importance of the Amrit Kavad grazing reserves in Karnataka for livestock and biodiversity conservation (Gopikrishna).

The session inspired constructive discussion among the audience as it challenged the prevailing perception of pastoralism being a backward and of low output.

We hope to be able to upload all of the presentations shortly.

Save the date: The Marwar Camel Culture Festival will be celebrated from 6-8 November at the Butibagh Campus of LPP’s partner organization Lokhit Pashu-Palak Sansthan in Sadri, Rajasthan, India.

It will bring together the struggling camel herders, artisans, Rajasthan lovers, local food producers and many others to revive the camel economy. There will be exciting events such as a camel cheese tasting, a Camel Literature Fest with readings by famous explorers, a camel milking competition, a camel sufi music concert and of course camel chai!

More information soon, or write to ilse@pastoralpeoples.org!

The Tibetan Human Rights and Development Centre will launch a report by Gabriel Lafitte on the situation of Tibetan nomads at the India International Centre in New-Delhi on 30th May. LPP coordinator Ilse Köhler-Rollefson will present a keynote address on the role of nomads in Tibet and other countries in food security and environmental protection.