In the beginning of February, India’s Ministry of  Environment and Forests (MOEF) announced its approval for converting the Kumbhalgarh Widlife Sanctuary into a National Park. The customary users of the protected area were given a time window to register any complaints and this has led to a flurry of meetings. LPP’s local partner organisation, Lokhit Pashu-Palak Sansthan, is assisting with paperwork and legal advice. It will be interesting to see how this case plays out, as several villages are in the process of applying for Forest Rights. Moreover, the Raika pastoralists have already developed a Biocultural Community Protocol.

The Jaisalmeri camel breeders still have large herds of camels, in addition to keeping other types of livestock, incl. cattle, sheep and goats. They are currently establishing a Biocultural Protocol with the help of LPP’s partner organisation Lokhit Pashu-Palak Sansthan (LPPS). This process is urgent since the customary grazing areas of these communities are encroached upon rapidly –  especially by companies that seek to generate alternative energies (wind and solar). Read more about this issue here.

Camel Charisma is a social enterprise that supports the Raika and other camel breeders to develop and market products from their camels. On 1st February it opened a tiny retail outlet near Ranakpur in Rajasthan.