RAIKA BIO-CULTURAL PROTOCOL
APPENDIX
Principle 3: Our traditional breeds represent
collective property, products of local knowledge
and cultural expression of the Raika.
1. The Raika have the right to make breeding
decisions and breed the breeds they maintain.
This right is supported by:
While the Raika have collective custodianship rights over
our breeds and the genetic traits of these breeds, it is crucial
Article 10 (c) of the Convention on Biological Diversity: obliges
that these rights are supported and promoted by the
Parties to “protect and encourage customary use of biological
government. Our government must therefore respect,
resources in accordance with traditional cultural practices
preserve and maintain the knowledge, innovations and
that are compatible with conservation and sustainable
practices of the Raika embodying lifestyles relevant for
use requirements”.
sustainable use and conservation of livestock diversity.
Principle 3 is supported by:
Article 8 (j) of the Convention on Biological Diversity:
2. The Raika shall have the right to
participate in policy formulation and
implementation processes on animal
genetic resources for food and agriculture.
“Contracting parties shall…subject to national legislation,
respect, preserve and maintain knowledge innovations and
This right is supported by:
practices of indigenous and local communities embodying
traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation
Article 8 (j) of the Convention on Biological Diversity:
and sustainable use of biological diversity…“
obliges Parties to “promote the wider application of the
knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and
Article 10 (c) of the Convention on Biological Diversity:
local communities with their approval and involvement”.
“customary use of biological resources is protected and
encouraged in accordance with traditional cultural
Article 14(1) (a) of the Convention on Biological Diversity:
practices that are compatible with conservation and
obliges Parties to “introduce appropriate procedures requiring
sustainable use requirements”...
environmental impact assessment of its proposed projects
that are likely to have significant adverse effects on biological
Chapter 15 (4) (g) of Agenda 21 calls on governments at the
diversity with a view to avoiding or minimizing such effects
appropriate level “to recognize and foster the traditional
and where appropriate allow for public participation in
methods and knowledge of indigenous people and their
such procedures”.
communities… relevant to the conservation of biological
diversity and the sustainable use of biological resources”.
Article 3 (a) of the United Nations Convention on
Desertification: compels Parties to “ensure that decisions on
Chapter 15 (5) (e) of Agenda 21: Governments should
the design and implementation of programmes to combat
“subject to national legislation, take action to respect,
desertification and/or mitigate the effects of drought are
record, protect and promote the wider application of the
taken with the participation of populations and local
knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local
communities and that an enabling environment is
communities embodying traditional lifestyles for the
created at higher levels to facilitate action at national
conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable
and local levels”.
use of biological resources …” Based on these principles
articulated and implicit in existing legal instruments and
Article 10(2) (f ) of the United Nations Convention on
international agreements, the Raika who belong to a traditional
Desertification: obliges the “effective participation at the
livestock keeping community and adhere to ecological principles
local, national and regional levels of non- governmental
of animal production affirm the following rights:
organizations and local populations, both women and men,
particularly resource users, including farmers and
pastoralistsand their representative organizations, in
policy planning, decision-making, and implementation
and review of national action programmes”.
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