Maldhari Biocultural Community Protocol Photo Story

The Maldhari pastoralists live in the Banni grasslands of Kachchh, India. They have conserved and sustainably used the grassland ecosystem for centuries and have developed unique breeds of livestock that are well-adapted to the local conditions. Their cultural identity and livelihoods depend on continued access to and use of the Banni grasslands. They are using their biocultural community protocol as the basis for advocating for rights and responsibilities under a variety of customary, national, and international laws.