I was invited to participate in a launch of Bio-cultural 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, BCPs 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 BCPs are formulated in a participatory process, rooted in culture and they are based on the communities laws, norms and values.
BCPs 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 BCP to safeguard their animal genetic resources including the red maasai sheep.
The Dafiama communityin North Ghana is discussing a BCP around the conservation and production of Shea.
BCPs can serve as the starting point for negotiations between the community and the bio-prospectors.
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BCPs can give visibility to resource conservation knowledge of communities.
On April 2019, communities in Lamu County developed and launched their Bio-cultural Community Protocols (BCPs). Natural Justice was one of the stakeholders who were involved.
The BCP Committee morphed into Save Lamu.
Ogiek indigenous Peoples have developed their own BCP. 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 BCPs.
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