RAIKA BIO-CULTURAL PROTOCOL
APPENDIX
WE CALL ON THE NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY AUTHORITY
We call on the National Biodiversity Authority to:
• Advise the Central Government and coordinate the
activities of the State Biodiversity Boards to protect the
• Recognize our local breeds and associated traditional
customary grazing rights of the Raika so as to safeguard
knowledge as set out in the Raika Biodiversity Register
our traditional lifestyles that ensure the conservation and
and to include it in the Peoples Biodiversity Register
sustainable use of the our breed diversity, associated
(under Rule 22(6) of the Biological Diversity Rules);
traditional knowledge and the local ecosystem
• Facilitate the setting up of Biodiversity Management
(under section 36 of the National Biodiversity Act).
Committees under the local bodies (Panchayats or
• Ensure that our prior informed consent (according to
Municipalities) where we live and to support these
customary law) is obtained before any decision are taken
Committees in ensuring the conservation and sustainable
that affect our traditional way of life or access is granted
use of our breed diversity and traditional knowledge
to our breed diversity and associated traditional
(as per section 41 of the National Biodiversity Act);
knowledge for research or for commercial purposes, and
• 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).
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:
• 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;
• Upholding our traditional roles as custodians of the
forests and as sustainers of the co-evolved forest
• Combating illegal logging and poaching in the forest;
ecosystem of the region;
• Continuing our traditional rotational or seasonal grazing
• Protecting the forest against fires by regulating the grass
growth by grazing and by fighting forest fires when
that facilitates forest growth;
• Eliminating invasive species in the forest;
they break out;
• Promoting and sustaining the breed diversity of
• Sustaining the predator population in the forest through
our livestock; and
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;
• Preserving and practicing our traditional breeding and
ethno-veterinary knowledge and innovations, and
sustainable management of forest resources relevant
to the protection of the co-evolved forest ecosystem
of the region.
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