Cultural practices also contribute to the herd’s diversity. For example, a husband is required by custom to give a dowry to the woman’s family that includes a good milk producer. Similarly, when a young woman moves to her husband’s home, she takes her animals to add to his. Over time this strengthens not only the herd but also the bond between the two families. Environmental knowledge: Outsiders cannot live in the region the same way we do because they lack the knowledge of how to live within this environment. We are able to guide our livestock over long distances to provide grazing, water and salting resources for them. Without this understanding of Samburu and its surrounding districts, our lives would not be tenable. 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 Our ethno-veterinary knowledge keeps our livestock healthy, our breeding practices promote a strong herd consisting of selected livestock populations and our environmental knowledge underwrites our animals’ survival in these harsh climatic conditions. We provide for our animals welfare, just as they provide for our livelihoods. Our relationship, therefore, is not one of provider and user, but of mutual-dependence and support. Sharing traditional knowledge: While the knowledge we have is widespread throughout our community, we assert that as creators of this knowledge, and whilst we share this knowledge among ourselves freely, we have a right to be consulted before it is used by any outsiders and respect should be accorded to our traditional laws regarding this use of this knowledge. RIGHT OF PRIOR INFORMED CONSENT ACCORDING TO CUSTOMARY LAWS In the past, we have worked with researchers and did not question governmental initiatives in our areas. Yet we have often never heard from the researchers after they leave, and have recently found that state-led breeding programs have in fact increased our climate vulnerability. This protocol affirms our right to have our prior informed consent sought before the implementation of any activities on our land. Elders make all the decisions in our communities. Decision is made at the village level, clan level and district level depending on the scale of the issue or the types of resources involved. For example, decisions about areas to be used for grazing are taken by elders of the villages that share the grazing areas. This means that decisions relating to a common resource such as the Red Maasai Sheep would be taken by elders from the different clans across the region. According to this principle of customary law, we must first be consulted before any activities that will impact us, such as research undertaken on our breeds; new breeding programs; use of our lands; and access and use of our traditional knowledge. 7

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