LPP will coordinate a workshop on Tuesday 13 May 2008 as part of the Planet Diversity world congress on food and agriculture in Bonn, Germany.

The workshop is entitled “Indigenous livestock breeds and livelihoods in marginal areas: From ‘destroyers of the environment’ to custodians of biodiversity: How can pastoralists change their image?”

In Europe, pastoralism is now acknowledged as essential for conserving biodiversity and retaining the attraction of cultural landscapes. But in many other countries, pastoralists are still seen as inimical to nature conservation and within major international frameworks, such as the UNCCD, they are held responsible for causing overgrazing and desertification. How can we change these outdated opinions? How can pastoralists in developing countries achieve recognition for their role in conserving breeds an agro-ecosystems? What can we learn from the European experience? How would institutional set ups and policy frameworks have to change to harness the potential of mobile livestock keeping for nature conservation? How can scientists support pastoralists and their advocacy efforts?

The purpose of the workshop is to arrive at a strategy for changing the image of pastoralism among major policy-makers and to develop ideas for mechanisms that would support and strengthen the official role of pastoralists in conservation.

Workshop participants must be registered with the Planet Diversity Conference.

Click here for more information.

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)