Copy of bcp 18112011 English - Natural Justice

The biocultural community protocol of maldharis of banni2. BIOCULTURAL PROTOCOL OF MALDHARI OF BANNI2We are Maldharis, pastoralists who live inBanni grasslands of Kachchh district in Gujarat,India. We have been the custodians of thebiodiversity rich Banni grassland ecosystemand have protected and nurtured it for over450 years. The Maldhari way of life has coevolvedwith the Banni ecosystem and ourindigenous livestock- the Banni buffalo,Kankrej Cattle, Sindhi Horse which areuniquely adapted to Banni; and has evolvedthrough a dynamic and complex interrelationshipbetween Maldharis and Banni.Maldharis, Banni Grassland and animalgenetic resources of Banni are mutually interdependentand any adverse impact on onenecessarily affects the wellbeing of others.This is Maldharis Bio-cultural Community ProtocolWe believe that nature has entrusted us with the responsibility to protect Banni andthe right to practice our traditional way of life in the Banni and through this bioculturalcommunity protocol we call on the government to respect and affirm thisright.In Maldharis bio-cultural community protocol we clearly state who we are, wherewe live, our relationship to Banni and our animals, our rights to land, our breeds andassociated traditional knowledge and our duties to protect this eco-system. Thisprotocol has been developed through a number of meetings held amongst Maldhariscommunities representing different Maldhari hamlets in Banni (refer to Annexure 1for a list of protocol related meetings held in East, Central and West Banni) and hasbeen approved by the 965 members of the Banni Pashu Uccherak MaldhariSangathan (Banni Breeders Association) who represent different Panchayats inBanni.