This document discusses animal genetic resources and the need for a broader concept of access and benefit-sharing. It notes that many multi-functional livestock breeds have been developed by pastoralists and smallholder communities to cope in challenging environments. These animals provide adaptive traits that will be important for climate change adaptation. However, their functionality depends not just on genes but also learned behavior within their social and ecological contexts. Thus, these livestock resources can only be conserved in-situ within these communities, not in gene banks. A wider concept of access and benefit-sharing is needed to create real benefits for pastoralists and livestock keepers in order to ensure the long-term survival of these genetic resources.

1. Access and Benefit-Sharing of Animal
Genetic Resources:
About the need to think out of the box
Ilse Köhler-Rollefson
League for Pastoral Peoples and
Endogenous Livestock Development (LPP)

2. „Two types of breeds/AnGR“
High output of one-product, high
inputs, artificial environment,
calculated diet
Multi-functional, several
products, cope with challenging
environment and variability

3. • For adapting to climate change , for a green
economy, and for mitigating the climate
impact of agriculture, humanity will require
the multi-functional breeds and their adaptive
traits!
• Many of them have been developed by
pastoralists, others – especially poultry and
pig breeds – are the product of indigenous
and smallholder communities
• For adapting to climate change , for a green
economy, and for mitigating the climate
impact of agriculture, humanity will require
the multi-functional breeds and their adaptive
traits!
• Many of them have been developed by
pastoralists, others – especially poultry and
pig breeds – are the product of indigenous
and smallholder communities

4. Pastoralist herds:
Mobile banks of fitness genes –
physiological adaptations to extreme
weather and unconventional feed stuffs
Mobile banks of fitness genes –
physiological adaptations to extreme
weather and unconventional feed stuffs

5. Biological diversity: In Rajasthan camels and goats convert 36
different fodder species into milk, meat, manure and fibre

6. Making use of waste and fertilizing at
the same time

7. BUT: we can not REDUCE functionality
to genetic traits!
Knowledge of herder Knowledge of animals

8. Feeding behaviour is learned, passed on from one
animal generation to the next (Kraetli, 2008)
Animals can not easily be transferred from one eco-
system to the other

9. Functionality in challenging
environments
• Not just a matter of physiological traits and
instinct, but also of LEARNED BEHAVIOUR!
• Pastoralist herds are LIVING HERITAGE
resources that can not be conserved out of
context and in gene-banks, but ONLY in-situ.
• Not just a matter of physiological traits and
instinct, but also of LEARNED BEHAVIOUR!
• Pastoralist herds are LIVING HERITAGE
resources that can not be conserved out of
context and in gene-banks, but ONLY in-situ.

10. Implications for Access and Benefit-
Sharing
If humanity wants to have ACCESS to these
„resources“ in the future, then they need to
be sustainably managed in their respective
ecological and social contexts.
If humanity wants to have ACCESS to these
„resources“ in the future, then they need to
be sustainably managed in their respective
ecological and social contexts.

11. What is ACCESS with respect to AnGR?
• Access to AnGR is not just about contracts
between specific providers and commercial
users (MTAs)
• Access is about ensuring survival of a pool of
genes long into the future.
• Otherwise we will lose opportunities for
adapting to climate change, as well as for food
production in harsh environments and with
minimal inputs!
• Access to AnGR is not just about contracts
between specific providers and commercial
users (MTAs)
• Access is about ensuring survival of a pool of
genes long into the future.
• Otherwise we will lose opportunities for
adapting to climate change, as well as for food
production in harsh environments and with
minimal inputs!

12. Nagoya Protocol requires governments to
support Community Protocols
Biocultural Community Protocols
document the role of a
community in conserving animal
genetic resources and eco-
systems, contribute to visibility
and awareness.
They are both a document and a
process.
Biocultural Community Protocols
document the role of a
community in conserving animal
genetic resources and eco-
systems, contribute to visibility
and awareness.
They are both a document and a
process.

13. This is an opportunity!
for countries to better understand:
• their animal genetic resources,
• the social contexts in which they exist,
• the threats that they are exposed to,
• thereby laying the foundation for their long-term
participatory conservation.
for countries to better understand:
• their animal genetic resources,
• the social contexts in which they exist,
• the threats that they are exposed to,
• thereby laying the foundation for their long-term
participatory conservation.

14. Community Breeds Country Status
Raika camel, Nari cattle, Boti sheep, Sirohi goat India finalized
Banni Maldhari Banni buffalo India finalized
Rebari and Jatt Kutchi and Kharai camels India finalized
Bargur Hill cattle Bargur Hill Cattle India finalized
Attappady goat
breeders
Attapatty goat India finalized
Pullikulum cattle
breeders
Pullikulum cattle India finalizedPullikulum cattle
breeders
Pullikulum cattle India finalized
Pashtoon Various breeds Pakistan finalized
Samburu Red Maasai sheep Kenya finalized
Golla Ganjam goat India In prep
Kuruba Kuruba shepherding system, incl. Deccani
breed
India In prep
Kangayam cattle
breeders
Kangayam cattle India In prep
Malgaddi Brela camel Pakistan In prep

15. Example: Brela camel from Pakistan

16. Camel population development
globally and in India
16
www.lpps.org,
www.camelsofrajasthan.com. E-mail
ilse@pastoralpeoples.org, #09660083437

17. Why?
• Demand for camels as work animals has
reduced – replaced by tractors, trucks and
cars.
• It is not allowed to take camels out of
Rajasthan – so nobody dares/wants to buy.
• There are no income opportunities from
camels. In order to save their own
livelihoods, camel breeders are forced to do
away with their whole herds.
• Demand for camels as work animals has
reduced – replaced by tractors, trucks and
cars.
• It is not allowed to take camels out of
Rajasthan – so nobody dares/wants to buy.
• There are no income opportunities from
camels. In order to save their own
livelihoods, camel breeders are forced to do
away with their whole herds.
www.lpps.org,
www.camelsofrajasthan.com. E-mail
ilse@pastoralpeoples.org, #09660083437
17

18. Camels can not be saved without Rajasthan‘s
unique Raika camel culture. They are the
guardians of the camel!
www.lpps.org,
www.camelsofrajasthan.com. E-mail
ilse@pastoralpeoples.org, #09660083437
18

19. The Raika require economic incentives to continue acting as
guardians. If their livelihoods are ensured, then the camel will be
saved and young people enter the profession.
www.lpps.org,
www.camelsofrajasthan.com. E-mail
ilse@pastoralpeoples.org, #09660083437
19

20. We need to capitalize on the potential of the
camel to produce a range of eco-friendly,
healthy heritage products to generate income
for the Raika
We need to capitalize on the potential of the
camel to produce a range of eco-friendly,
healthy heritage products to generate income
for the Raika
We need to capitalize on the potential of the
camel to produce a range of eco-friendly,
healthy heritage products to generate income
for the Raika
www.lpps.org,
www.camelsofrajasthan.com. E-mail
ilse@pastoralpeoples.org, #09660083437
20

21. A growing global market for camel milk
Premium product for health benefitsUS
Australia IndiaUAE
Retail price per litre
FAO estimates global camel milk market may grow
to $10 billion annually
Rs 1178Rs 2400Rs 300 Rs 600
21
www.lpps.org,
www.camelsofrajasthan.com. E-mail
ilse@pastoralpeoples.org, #09660083437

23. Different approaches to
agrobiodiversity conservation:
PGR: Svalbard AnGR: A network of community
based „breed repositories“

24. Required Benefits for
Pastoralists/Livestock keeping
comunities
• Grazing Rights
• Value chain development /infrastructure for
local processing
• Marketing
• Veterinary care
• Capacity and Organisation Building
• Grazing Rights
• Value chain development /infrastructure for
local processing
• Marketing
• Veterinary care
• Capacity and Organisation Building

25. Resulting Benefits for Society at large
• Genetic diversity for adaptation to climate
change
• Healthy heritage products
• Provision of ecological services – seed
dispersal, organic fertilizer
• Livelihoods, thriving rural areas
• Genetic diversity for adaptation to climate
change
• Healthy heritage products
• Provision of ecological services – seed
dispersal, organic fertilizer
• Livelihoods, thriving rural areas

26. If we invest in such comprehensive approaches, beyond
Material Transfer Agreements, we will combine:
•Conservation of AnGr with conservation of
ecosystems/biodiversity at large
•Conservation of AnGr with climate change
adaptation
•Conservation of AnGr with rural development
If we invest in such comprehensive approaches, beyond
Material Transfer Agreements, we will combine:
•Conservation of AnGr with conservation of
ecosystems/biodiversity at large
•Conservation of AnGr with climate change
adaptation
•Conservation of AnGr with rural development
Local AnGr are a crucial pivot for the
implementation of SDG 2, and many
others…

27. IF
….we adopt a wider concept of Access and Benefit-
Sharing of animal genetic resources that creates
benefits for the pastoralists and livestock keepers
that have created and steward them!
IF
….we adopt a wider concept of Access and Benefit-
Sharing of animal genetic resources that creates
benefits for the pastoralists and livestock keepers
that have created and steward them!

28. Thank You!
www.pastoralpeoples.org, ilse@pastoralpeoples.org