The League for Pastoral Peoples (LPP)

The League for Pastoral Peoples (LPP) is a non-profit organisation devoted to advocacy and technical support to marginal livestock keepers, in particular pastoralists. It was founded in 1992 in Germany. Activities focus on research, training, capacity building and networking in co-operation with partner organisations.

LPP's objectives are to:

• Raise awareness among the general public about the global plight of pastoralists.
• Improve the image of pastoralists among governments and development organisations by emphasizing their role in sustainable food production in arid areas, in preserving indigenous livestock breeds, and as stewards of an intricate indigenous knowledge system on survival in the arid zone.
• Provide information on the situation of pastoralists.
• Facilitate interaction between pastoralists on one hand and government and NGOs on the other hand.
• Organize and implement pastoral development projects.
• Act as a pressure group for the rights of pastoralists on an international level.

SwedBio currently supports the project "Strengthening the Movement for Livestock Keepers' Rights -Proposal for Preparatory Activities to the International Technical Conference on Animal Genetic Resources in 2007" . The project started in March 2006 and will continue until December 2007.

The objectives of the project are :

• To gain momentum and wide-spread acceptance for the concept of "Livestock Keepers' Rights" that has been developed by pastoralist representatives and their support organisations in response to advances in animal biotechnology and structural changes of the livestock sector that threaten to undermine livestock biodiversity and the integrity of animal genetic resources.
• The ultimate goal is for Livestock Keepers Rights to be enshrined within an international legal framework.

Specific project activities include:

• Coordinating the Efforts to Raise the Profile of Livestock Keepers' Rights.
• Research Support.
• Participation of Livestock Keepers and NGOs in Preparatory Meetings (three regional meetings planned by the FAO in Latin America, Asia, and Africa).
• Workshop on Livestock Biodiversity and Intellectual Property Rights ("IPR Workshop").

Selected documents from the LPP programme:

Livestock - Keepers' Rights. Conserving Breeds, Supporting Livelihoods

Farm Animal Genetic Resources. Safeguarding National Assets for Food Security and Trade

Securing Tomorrow's Food. Promoting the Sustainable Use of Farm Animal Genetic Resources