Chapter 15 (4) (g) of Agenda 21 calls on governments at the appropriate level “to recognize and foster the traditional methods and knowledge of
indigenous people and their communities …relevant to the conservation of
biological diversity and the sustainable use of biological resources”.
Chapter 15 (5) (e) of Agenda 21: Governments should “subject to national legislation, take action to respect, record, protect and promote the
wider application of the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous
and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles for the conservation of
biological diversity and the sustainable use of biological resources …”
Based on these principles articulated and implicit in existing legal instruments and international agreements, the Samburu who belong to a traditional livestock keeping community and adhere to ecological principles
of animal production affirm the following rights:
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
The Samburu have the right to make breeding decisions and breed the
breeds they maintain and manage the environment they live in
This right is supported by:
1. Article 10 (c) of the Convention on Biological Diversity: obliges Parties to “protect and encourage customary use of biological resources in
accordance with traditional cultural practices that are compatible with
conservation and sustainable use requirements”.
2. The Samburu shall have the right to participate in policy formulation
and implementation processes on animal genetic resources for food
and agriculture.
This right is supported by:
Article 8 (j) of the Convention on Biological Diversity: obliges Parties to “promote the wider application of the knowledge, innovations
and practices of indigenous and local communities with their approval
and involvement”.
Article 14(1) (a) of the Convention on Biological Diversity: obliges
Parties to “introduce appropriate procedures requiring environmental
impact assessment of its proposed projects that are likely to have significant adverse effects on biological diversity with a view to avoiding
or minimizing such effects and where appropriate allow for public participation in such procedures”.
Article 3 (a) of the United Nations Convention on Desertification:
compels Parties to “ensure that decisions on the design and implementation of programmes to combat desertification and/or mitigate the effects of drought are taken with the participation of populations and local communities and that an enabling environment is created at higher
levels to facilitate action at national and local levels”.
Article 10(2) (f) of the United Nations Convention on Desertification: obliges the “effective participation at the local, national and re-
15