India marks its independence on 15 August – an ideal occasion to press for the rights of pastoralists to their traditional grazing rights in the country’s forests.

A ban on traditional grazing in forests threatens the pastoralists’ livelihoods. Many are forced to give up keeping animals, in turn threatening the survival of many unique livestock breeds.

India’s forests must be conserved. But so too must the livelihoods and rights of the people who depend on them.

Please print out one of these letters, sign it, and mail or fax it to the addresses below.

Letter to be signed by pastoral communities or associations. 27 kb

Letter to be signed by non-pastoral communities, volunteers or NGOs in support of pastoralists. 28 kb

Addresses

• Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India, New Delhi 110011. Fax 011 – 23019545, 23016857
• Mr. Raja, Minister of Environmental and Forests, Paryavaran Bhawan, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 3 (Fax 011 – 24362222)3)
• Dr. Abdul Kalam, President of India, Rashtrapathy Bhawan, New Delhi – 110 004 (Fax 011 – 23017290, 23017824)
• If you live in India, the authorities in your State.

Why pastoralists need help to conserve livestock biodiversity
Old myths can die hard.

Many policy makers still think that desertification is caused by overgrazing by irresponsible pastoralists – even though scientists have shown that keeping large numbers of livestock is the most productive and sustainable use for drylands.

The World Day to Combat Desertification, 17 June 2006, is an ideal time to focus on the important, but little-recognized, role that pastoralists play in conserving the world’s livestock biodiversity. This role is being threatened by the expansion of crop agriculture into grazing lands and the spread of “livestock monocultures” of high-yielding, but high-input breeds.

More information:

In English 46 kb

Auf Deutsch 46 kb

In September 2007, the town of Interlaken, Switzerland, will host a major international conference on animal genetic resources.

The First International Technical Conference on Animal Genetic Resources comes at a time when the livestock sector is increasingly coming under the control of private firms. Livestock keepers are in danger of losing their rights to their own animals: their traditional rights to grazing lands, and the right to breed, sell and even to keep animals.

The League for Pastoral Peoples and Endogenous Livestock Development, along with its partners in the LIFE Network, is planning a series of activities to highlight the role of livestock keepers in creating and maintaining livestock biodiversity, and to press for their rights.

Click here for more information. 64 kb.