Lawyers develop ‘biocultural protocol’ to protect marginalized Kalahari's San Bushmen and their natural land rights
Last updated 11/4/2008 12:02:24 PM
Andre, a Khomani San community worker
Activist lawyers for a South Africa-based NGO, Natural Justice, have developed an innovative legal instrument called ‘biocultural protocol’ to enable indigenous San people to leverage their rights.
It is similar to miniature constitutions that elucidate the people’s biocultural ethics and include political demands.
The effort is helping to preserve traditional livelihoods of the San Bushmen of the Kalahari, one of the world's oldest tribes, who are highly marginalized in Angola, South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.
For millennia the San have traditional knowledge of a special succulent called ‘Hoodia’, that when eaten can staves hunger.
The herbal appetite suppressant is due to be released as a ‘miracle’ slimming product by a major pharmaceutical company.
Natural Justice is working with the San to assist in turning the financial benefits of the deal to real gains in terms of their environmental, social and economic rights.
As a result, the San have entered into a benefit sharing agreement with the South African Hoodia Growers Association, a body regulating the harvesting and sale of raw Hoodia product.