I was invited to participate in a launch of Biocultural Community Protocol (BCP) launch in Nakuru. I’m excited about it considering that this is completely a new area and there is a lot to learn.
According to a report published by GIZ and Future Makers, Biocultural Community Protocol are “instruments that set out clear terms and conditions to governments, private, academia and non-profit sectors for engaging with indigenous and local communities and accessing their local resources and knowledge.”
The Biocultural Community Protocol are formulated in a participatory process, rooted in culture and they are based on the communities laws, norms and values.
Biocultural Community Protocol are made up of the following components:
- A definition of the community, its leadership and decision-making processes;
- A description of community knowledge, values, innovations and practices in conserving the community’s fauna and flora;
- Ways of life including the link between culture, values, customary laws and spirituality;
- Rights, responsibilities and duties of the communities in regards to customary, national and international laws;
- Procedures for Free, Prior Informed Consent (FPIC);
- Challenges faced by the community;
The Samburu pastoralists developed a Biocultural Community Protocol to safeguard their animal genetic resources including the red maasai sheep.
The Dafiama communityin North Ghana is discussing a Biocultural Community Protocol around the conservation and production of Shea.
Biocultural Community Protocol can serve as the starting point for negotiations between the community and the bio-prospectors.
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Biocultural Community Protocol can give visibility to resource conservation knowledge of communities.
On April 2019, communities in Lamu County developed and launched their Biocultural Community Protocols (BCPs). Natural Justice was one of the stakeholders who were involved.
The Biocultural Community Protocol Committee morphed into Save Lamu.
Ogiek indigenous Peoples have developed their own Biocultural Community Protocol . I found the second edition online and it is highly detailed.
There is a 120-page toolkit prepared by Natural Justice to help communities in coming up with their own Biocultural Community Protocol.
References
GIZ: https://bit.ly/3ipHC2U
Natural Justice
Lamu County Biocultural Community Protocol
Ogiek BCP
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Well written. Positive of course not enough, but read in one breath