Author: redrat

This author has written 244 articles

Pastoralism and biodiversity

There is no such thing as wasteland. Cattle owners in Madeira herd their animals on the mountaintops – too steep and cold for crop cultivation

Pastoralists and support organizations attending an international meeting on biodiversity have issued a statement demanding recognition for the role of pastoralists in conserving biodiversity.

The ninth meeting of the Conference of Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity is taking place in Bonn, Germany, from 19 to 30 May 2008.

“When land is taken away for crop cultivation or for ‘Protected Areas’, pastoralists are denied access to traditional grazing lands and pastures. There is no so-called ‘wasteland’. Land that is considered ‘waste’ by the state is used by pastoralists for grazing their animals and managing herds”, says the statement.

“We demand that the contribution of pastoralists to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity is recognised and rewarded… Pastoralists do not want food aid but the capacity to produce and market their speciality products.”

Download full statement (1 page, 42 kb)

Booklet on endogenous livestock development

Endogenous livestock development means putting small-scale livestock keepers and pastoralists at the centre of their own development. It means building on what they already do, and supporting their initiatives to improve their livelihoods, instead of imposing “solutions” from outside.

LPP and the Endogenous Livestock Development Network have published a 24-page booklet outlining the endogenous livestock development approach and introducing the ELD Network.

Download booklet (786 kb)

Visit the Endogenous Livestock Development Network