Rolex Awards for Enterprise 2008 provides an update of the work of LPP founder Ilse Koehler-Rollefson.

An Associate Laureate of the 2002 Rolex Awards, Ilse has been working with and campaigning for the Raika people in India and their animals for 17 years.

“Almost without being aware of it, the world is gradually losing one of its major assets, the product of a combination of human ingenuity and natural resources”, says the Rolex report.

“About one-third of the 5,000 officially documented livestock breeds are threatened with extinction and are dying out at the rate of almost two breeds per week.”

Ilse praised African delegates to the International Conference on Animal Genetic Resources in Interlaken, Switzerland, in September 2007, for standing up for herders’ rights. She regretted the fact that little support had come from Western countries.

“Herders and their animals not only enhance the landscape, they also represent important bio-cultural heritage for all humankind,” she says.

Click here for the full report.

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 communities would qualify for support by their governments. Alas, in reality, they are generally ignored or scorned upon by policy makers.

On 19-23 May 2008, the government parties to the Convention will meet in Bonn, Germany, to discuss progress in implementing the Convention.

Parallel to the official meetings, a Planet Diversity event will bring together grassroots organizations that promote cultural and biological diversity.

The League for Pastoral Peoples and Endogenous Livestock Development and Lokhit Pashu-Palak Sansthan (India) will use the opportunity to lobby for an official acknowledgment of the role of pastoralists in conserving various aspects of biodiversity, including those of domestic animals, certain wild plants and animals, as well as landscapes.

LPP and its partners have gained allies among shepherds in Germany, who often get paid to herd sheep on land to maintain its biodiversity. Another strong supporter is the LIFE Network for community-based conservation of animal genetic resources.

More information

• Convention on Biological Diversity (official government meetings)
• Planet Diversity (parallel event)

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 sources of income for the Raika.