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Facilitate the setting up of Biodiversity Management Committees under the local bodies
(Panchayats or Municipalities) where we live and to support these Committees in ensuring the
conservation and sustainable use of our breed diversity and traditional knowledge (as per
section 41 of the National Biodiversity Act);
Strengthen in situ conservation of breeds of the Raika and include them in the BMC being
initiated by the government (under sections 36 and 41 of the National Biodiversity Act).
Advise the Central Government and coordinate the activities of the State Biodiversity Boards to
protect the customary grazing rights of the Raika so as to safeguard our traditional lifestyles that
ensure the conservation and sustainable use of the our breed diversity, associated traditional
knowledge and the local ecosystem (under section 36 of the National Biodiversity Act).
Ensure that our prior informed consent (according to customary law) is obtained before any
decision are taken that affect our traditional way of life or access is granted to our breed
diversity and associated traditional knowledge for research or for commercial purposes, and
further ensure that we receive a fair and equitable share of the benefits arising from the
utilization of our breeds and traditional knowledge according to mutually agreed terms (under
section 21 of the national biodiversity Act);
WE COMMIT TO PROTECTING THE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND
ASSOCIATED TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE
We commit to protecting the biological diversity of the region, our animal genetic resources and
associated traditional knowledge, by:
• Upholding our traditional roles as custodians of the forests and as sustainers of the co-evolved
forest ecosystem of the region;
• Protecting the forest against fires by regulating the grass growth by grazing and by fighting
forest fires when they break out;
• Sustaining the predator population in the forest through the customary offering of some of our
livestock as prey;
• Continuing to increase forest growth through the customary manuring of the forest from the
dung of our livestock;
• Ensuring strong tree growth by the customary pruning of the upper branches and twigs of trees
by our camels;
• Grazing the fallen leaves on the forest floor thereby keeping the termite population in check;
• Combating illegal logging and poaching in the forest;
• Continuing our traditional rotational or seasonal grazing that facilitates forest growth;
• Eliminating invasive species in the forest;
• Promoting and sustaining the breed diversity of our livestock; and
• Preserving and practicing our traditional breeding and ethno-vetinary knowledge and
innovations, and sustainable management of forest resources relevant to the protection of the
co-evolved forest ecosystem of the region.
OUR RIGHTS UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW
We the Raika in our biocultural community protocol identify the following principles and rights based on
international law, (that are further elaborated in Appendix II, namely:
A. Principles
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