BCPs could address issues that relate to benefit sharing in the carbon trade and sustainable
forest management.
Group ranch management, land demarcation and subdivision could be addressed through
well-developed BCPs.
Kivulini Heritage Trust (KHT) by Dr Hassan Roba, Kenya
Dr Roba informed the meeting that the KHT exists to reconnect pastoralists and other minority groups
of Northern Kenya. KHT employs endogenous approaches that draw on the wisdom inherent in
Kenyan communities’ traditional cultural systems and practices.
Dr Roba stressed that the main issues and problems faced by most communities were:
Unsecure land tenure system
A breakdown in traditional regulation and dysfunctional customary resource management
institution
Competition for grazing land with wild life conservation
Threatened livelihood – pastoralism
The loss of culturally valued resource
Limited legal capacity at the grassroots to address resource related challenges
Dr Roba highlighted that the origin of the resource management crisis is historical in nature resulting
from the continuous alienation of people and resources by the colonial and post-colonial
governments. These problems are also by local political leadership and private conservation
agencies.
He indicated that currently awareness creation and sensitisation is being conducted by local NGOs.
Efforts towards promotion of culturally and ecologically appropriate conservation initiative have also
been undertaken.
Dr Roba suggested the following possible application of BCPs:
Use international and national laws and agreements to strengthen community access and
control of grazing resource.
Build local capacity to engage in
discussion and negotiation on issues
of ABS in case of change from
current land use.
Revitalise local customary institutions
to strengthen local engagement in
resource governance.
Dr Roba concluded by pointing out that the
development of BCPs could encounter two
main challenges in the context with which
he works: (i) vested external interests in such
things as conservancies may conflict with
the aims of communities and therefore
some actors may not wish to engage with
BCPs and (ii) reconciling multiple local
interests in resources.
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