The IPI, ITCs Workshop on Intellectual Property February Brief presentation of the activities of the Mbororo Indigenous Pastoralists Peoples and the Issues Discussed at WIPO IGC By Musa Usman Ndamba

Cameroon Map

Introduction The Mbororo-Fulani pastoralists are a set of indigenous people (nomads) who migrated in the late 18 century into Cameroon. The Mbororo-Fulani pastoralists are a set of indigenous people (nomads) who migrated in the late 18 century into Cameroon. As nomads, they depend on the soil and the climate for their livestock up keep. As nomads, they depend on the soil and the climate for their livestock up keep. They are at present minorities and have no concentrated settlements and are marginalised in most cases. They are at present minorities and have no concentrated settlements and are marginalised in most cases.

Mbororo Livelihood

About MBOSCUDA The Mbororo Social and Cultural development Association (MBOSCUDA) is an Association with ECOSOC Special consultative Status and hold Ad-hoc observer Status with the WIPO intergovernmental Committee. The Mbororo Social and Cultural development Association (MBOSCUDA) is an Association with ECOSOC Special consultative Status and hold Ad-hoc observer Status with the WIPO intergovernmental Committee. It was created in 1992 in Yaoundé. It was created in 1992 in Yaoundé. It has a mission to empower the Mbororo community for a sustainable and equitable human, social, cultural and economic development. It has a mission to empower the Mbororo community for a sustainable and equitable human, social, cultural and economic development.

Traditional Cultural Expressions (TCEs) Mbororo people have extensive knowledge of their environment. Mbororo people have extensive knowledge of their environment. These people have indigenous knowledge and practices relating to animal development and health. These people have indigenous knowledge and practices relating to animal development and health. They also have sound knowledge on plants particularly on ethno-veterinary medicine for the treatment of cattle pathological diseases. They also have sound knowledge on plants particularly on ethno-veterinary medicine for the treatment of cattle pathological diseases. Unfortunately the knowledge and practices are being lost because the knowledge holders are passing away and their knowledge is not being documented or transmitted to younger generations. Unfortunately the knowledge and practices are being lost because the knowledge holders are passing away and their knowledge is not being documented or transmitted to younger generations.

The Mbororo People are rich in tangible and intangible cultural heritage; which are maintained by individuals and communities in accordance with the Mbororo customary laws, practices and values. The Mbororo People are rich in tangible and intangible cultural heritage; which are maintained by individuals and communities in accordance with the Mbororo customary laws, practices and values.

Mbororo Identity

 For the Mbororo People, TCEs are of particular cultural and spiritual significance, some of which need to be documented in order to be preserved for future generations to use.  They have TCEs of sacred power and practices that need to be protected.  The documentation of those TCEs should conform with the customary laws and values of the Mbororo People, as well as with WIPO standards and other international regulations to avoid misappropriation, misuse, misrepresentation, and abuse.

Traditional Knowledge. Mbororo Peoples have very rich traditional knowledge, which they have preserved and transmitted through oral tradition and customary practice from generation to generation. Mbororo Peoples have very rich traditional knowledge, which they have preserved and transmitted through oral tradition and customary practice from generation to generation. They promote and respect their TK in accordance with their customary laws, practices and values. They promote and respect their TK in accordance with their customary laws, practices and values. For Mbororo People, TK and TCEs are one and inseparable aspects of their culture, of their way of life. For Mbororo People, TK and TCEs are one and inseparable aspects of their culture, of their way of life. Mbororo people have projects for the preservation of their TK and TCEs. Mbororo people have projects for the preservation of their TK and TCEs.

A Nursery of medicinal plants

The Prior and Informed Consent of Mbororo people during documentation of TK is necessary to guard against misappropriation and misuse. The Prior and Informed Consent of Mbororo people during documentation of TK is necessary to guard against misappropriation and misuse. Access and Benefit-Sharing in case of commercialisation of their TK should be fair and equitable and should occur with proper attribution and recognition of the TK holders’ contribution. Access and Benefit-Sharing in case of commercialisation of their TK should be fair and equitable and should occur with proper attribution and recognition of the TK holders’ contribution. They need skills, resources (human and financial), the capacity to and means of safely transmitting their TK, within their own cultural context, and in dealing with external research and development firms, universities, and/or governmental entities. They need skills, resources (human and financial), the capacity to and means of safely transmitting their TK, within their own cultural context, and in dealing with external research and development firms, universities, and/or governmental entities.

A project for the creation of a local centre for the preservation and valorisation of useful and endangered medicinal plant species of the Mbororo pastoralists in Cameroon was realised in That project was funded by the World Bank. A project for the creation of a local centre for the preservation and valorisation of useful and endangered medicinal plant species of the Mbororo pastoralists in Cameroon was realised in That project was funded by the World Bank. The project objectives were to: The project objectives were to: Create a research centre for the protection and preservation of TCEs and TK, for the Mbororo Pastoralists and researchers. Create a research centre for the protection and preservation of TCEs and TK, for the Mbororo Pastoralists and researchers. Put in place a method of preserving Indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants and traditional artifacts. Put in place a method of preserving Indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants and traditional artifacts. Create a directory of useful plants of the Mbororo Peoples and their various uses. Create a directory of useful plants of the Mbororo Peoples and their various uses. Establish a Mbororo Ethno-touristic Centre which will enhance the capacity of the Mbororo Peoples to efficiently manage their natural resources and their environment. Establish a Mbororo Ethno-touristic Centre which will enhance the capacity of the Mbororo Peoples to efficiently manage their natural resources and their environment.

Learning Forum for Mbororo People on TK and TCEs

Genetic Resources: Mbororo people are traditionally nomads and cattle herders. Mbororo people are traditionally nomads and cattle herders. They have good knowledge of biodiversity conservation. They have good knowledge of biodiversity conservation. They love keeping a lot of stock regardless of the nature of the climate and the availability of accommodation. They love keeping a lot of stock regardless of the nature of the climate and the availability of accommodation. They own particular traditional species of cattle known as the mbororoji, akuji, Bunaji and gudali which are presently endemic only in particular places of Africa. They own particular traditional species of cattle known as the mbororoji, akuji, Bunaji and gudali which are presently endemic only in particular places of Africa. The above species are adapted to the harsh climatic conditions. The above species are adapted to the harsh climatic conditions. MBOSCUDA is doing everything possible to maintain these traditional species of cattle and is encouraging the adoption and use of appropriate cattle breeding and herds management technologies (a mixture of TK, TCEs and western science). MBOSCUDA is doing everything possible to maintain these traditional species of cattle and is encouraging the adoption and use of appropriate cattle breeding and herds management technologies (a mixture of TK, TCEs and western science).

Cattle Drinking Water

Conclusion The need for capacity building of community members in the protection, preservation and sustainability of traditional cultural expressions, traditional knowledge and genetic resources cannot be over emphasised. The need for capacity building of community members in the protection, preservation and sustainability of traditional cultural expressions, traditional knowledge and genetic resources cannot be over emphasised. Initiatives to advance those goals should not be driven by external objectives or purposes, but rather by a genuine intention to support and empower Indigenous and local communities in the preservation, protection, and use of their TK and TCEs. Initiatives to advance those goals should not be driven by external objectives or purposes, but rather by a genuine intention to support and empower Indigenous and local communities in the preservation, protection, and use of their TK and TCEs. Focussing on the needs and aspirations of the community will produce better, more relevant outcomes not only at the community level, but also at the regional, national, and international levels. Focussing on the needs and aspirations of the community will produce better, more relevant outcomes not only at the community level, but also at the regional, national, and international levels. We appreciate and encourage information sharing through seminars and workshops of this nature at national and regional levels. We appreciate and encourage information sharing through seminars and workshops of this nature at national and regional levels.

Assistance to local NGOs and associations may also be necessary to overcome challenges such as inadequate funding and lack of necessary skills to manage TCEs, TK and GR. Assistance to local NGOs and associations may also be necessary to overcome challenges such as inadequate funding and lack of necessary skills to manage TCEs, TK and GR. MBOSCUDA is ready and willing to play a regional role in networking with other Indigenous Peoples organisations to help attain these goals. MBOSCUDA is ready and willing to play a regional role in networking with other Indigenous Peoples organisations to help attain these goals. We call on WIPO IGC to accelerate the adoption of an international instrument for the Protection of TCEs, TK and GR. This legal framework shall be the prerequisite for any local sui generis system or law. We call on WIPO IGC to accelerate the adoption of an international instrument for the Protection of TCEs, TK and GR. This legal framework shall be the prerequisite for any local sui generis system or law.

I would like to thank WIPO IGC, IPI and other organisers for inviting me to participate in this Indigenous workshop. It has been a great opportunity to discuss some of the issues that are currently occupying the minds of The Mbororo Indigenous communities in Cameroon. Thanks for your kind attention. Musa Usman Ndamba Musa Usman Ndamba