2. Any intended intervention must be preceded by an environmental impact assessment, as well as cultural and social impact assessments.
3. We still have enough breeding males of Red Maasai sheep to build up
our flocks again, but require assistance to determine which are the
purest of the rams with which to breed. We request the government
and external experts to assist us on this.
4. We suggest organized community groups at village and district level
to come up with trusts for our knowledge and sustainable beneficial
use of our indigenous livestock and other natural environment resources. We request external facilitation in formalizing these groups.
We must consider establishing a trust fund i.e. the RED MAASAI
TRUST FUND to promote the conservation and sustainable utilization of the Red Maasai sheep
The Samburu
Community
Protocol about
the Samburu
Indigenous
Livestock Breeds
and their
Rights to their
Indigenous
Livestock Genetic
Resources and
Role in Global
Biodiversity
Management
5. Settlements are being established through our pasture areas. We call
on the government to regulate this trend that is having a further negative effect on the sustainability of our grazing areas.
6. We need more veterinary support and access to markets for our livestock. We also request the government to review the mandate of the
local state owned farms and to assess their social and environmental
impact that we feel is currently minimal.
From commercial and non-commercial researchers and breeding institutions: We should be involved in any decisions about research and breeding that involves our breeds and/or traditional knowledge. Any consent
to research or breeding programmes will be taken at the appropriate
community level and will consider what tangible benefits the community
will receive from the research or breeding programmes. Reference will
be made to the Regulations referenced above as well as to the emerging
principles in the incumbent international regime on access and benefit
sharing.
From the CBD and the FAO: We call on the Secretariat of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, specifically under Article 8(j) of the Convention, to recognize our contribution to the conservation and sustainable
use of biological diversity. We also call on the UN Food and Agriculture
Organization to acknowledge the importance of our livestock populations and to recognize Livestock Keepers’ Rights.
A NOTE OF SOLIDARITY
We express solidarity with all livestock keepers across the world. We celebrate our diversity as well as acknowledge the similar ways of life, values,
and challenges that we face.
December 2009
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