Peer-to-Peer Learning Exchange between Kuboes youth and the Nieuwoudtville community

Drieka Koopman and Kuboes share knowledge around
livestock keeping at Sonderwaterkraal (Photo credit: Cath Traynor)

The peer-to-peer learning exchange between the Kuboes youth group and the Nieuwoudtville community took place between 2-4 September, 2016. Natural Justice had reached out to the local environmental NGOs Indigo Development & Change and the Environmental Monitoring Group (EMG) who have been supporting the small-scale Rooibos farmers to adapt to climate change through community-based approaches.  Natural Justice’s Dr Cath Traynor and intern Julia Röttinger, joined eight Kuboes youth and Community Co-Researchers Gerren De Wet (Kuboes) and Reino Le Fleur (Vredendal) in Nieuwoudtville, to learn more about their climate change adaptation processes and share perspectives from the Richtersveld.

Rietjiehuis Ecolodge
(Photo credit: Cath Traynor)

After a warm welcome on Friday afternoon and brief introduction to the NGOs’ work Shannon Parring, Albert ‘Berty’ Kooman (Indigo – Development & Change), Siyabonga Myeza (EMG) took everyone to the Rietjiehuis Eco Lodge in Melkkraal where they had a traditional potjekos and spent the next two nights. The Eco Lodge is run by Marie Syster and consists of a few traditional reed huts which are located on a quiet piece of land surrounded by untouched beautiful nature, with goats and chickens freely roaming. The sustainable accommodation offers the full experience including cooking on an open fire and solar powered lamps in the huts.

Rooibos farmers Jan and Drieka explain the "pot experiment"

(Photo credit: Cath Traynor)

Saturday started off with a short hike to local rooibos farmers Jan and Drieka where they explained their “pot experiment”, a study by PhD students who are monitoring the growth of rooibos plants with the help of the local Rooibos farmers. The different pots get separate treatments, such as different types of soil as well as amounts of water or sun, which is hoped will show what might happen to Rooibos in the future due to climate change impacts. The whole area is famous for its organic Rooibos tea, Rooibos plants are endemic to the area, and the tea is in high demand, especially overseas. The community owns the land and also controls the entire Rooibos production process through the Heideveld Co-operative, which is becoming more and more successful. It was interesting to hear how the community have organised themselves for the benefit of all.

Jan's own observations on Rooibos

propagation have resulted in the
high survival rates of his seedlings

(Photo credit: Cath Traynor)

Every three months the community has a “Climate Change Preparedness” workshop with Indigo and EMG where participants exchange their experiences as small scale farmers raising questions such as: When did I plant or harvest? What has changed? And what can I do better? Those workshops are helping the participants to adapt to changing circumstances by learning from each other.

The next stop was Sonderwaterkraal, home to Drieka Koopman, who is a female pastoralist and had started a livestock monitoring project a couple of years ago. The Kuboes youth group used that opportunity to ask Drieka everything about keeping livestock and noticeable changes in the weather patterns over the past few decades. It turned out that here too, just like in the Richtersveld area, the climate has become drier with much less rainfall. It is therefore more difficult now to find good grazing areas for the animals and to maintain the health of the livestock.

Driving back to Melkkraal the participants had some time to reflect on the eventful and interesting day so everyone could share their thoughts in the next session at the Eco Lodge in the early evening. It was exciting to see how the Kuboes youth group was inspired by the Nieuwoudtville community and the young leaders in the NGOs. All participants were very comfortable with one another and happy to share their thoughts, future plans but also fears with regard to brining change and adaption projects to their own community. 

The last reflection session on Sunday morning, led by Siyabonga and Shannon, in their office gave another insight in the young leaders’ minds and showed how the youth can engage with traditional knowledge from the communities’ elders in order to adapt to climate change.  Berty Koopman shared ‘Berty’s Journey’ a touching film of his journey back to his parents farm at Sonderwaterkraal, and discussions with his elders regards their lives and local knowledge.  It was the perfect ending to an inspiring weekend filled with learning, valuable experiences and new friends. It seems like the next “peer-to-peer learning exchange” might take place between the Kuboes youth group and their own community’s elders.

Exchange participants
(Photo credit: Cath Traynor)

Natural Justice Hosted an Access and Benefit-Sharing Preparation Meeting with Khoi and San Communities Concerning Rooibos

Natural Justice’s Cape Town office hosted preparatory meetings with stakeholders to the Rooibos access and benefit-sharing agreement discussions. The stakeholders present included representatives from the Rooibos farming communities of Wupperthal and Niewoudtsville, the National Khoi-San Council and the San Council of South Africa.

The purpose of the meetings was to (i) Conduct Access and Benefit Sharing training, (ii) Engage in legal consultation with the stakeholders respective lawyers on the negotiations and (iii) to prepare the stakeholders for the broader access and benefit-sharing meeting with the Department of Environmental Affairs and the Rooibos Industry, scheduled for the afternoon of the 31^st of August.  The opportunity was also used to discuss with the communities the development of a Biocultural Community Protocol on Rooibos.

The meetings commenced the morning of the 30^th of August and closed the afternoon of the 31^st of August. During the final session the stakeholders took the time to reflect and wrap up the discussions from the previous day, and they watched a short video introducing the concept of biocultural community protocols along with WIPO’s (World Intellectual Property Organization) resources around traditional knowledge.

The communities then met with the Rooibos Industry during the afternoon. This meeting was hosted and facilitated by the Department of Environmental Affairs at their Cape Town offices.

Access and Benefit Sharing Meeting with Khoi-San Rooibos Farming Community in Wupperthal, Cedarburg Region

Photo:Lesle Jansen/Natural Justice

On 16 March 2016 Natural Justice, together with the National Khoi-San Council (NKSC) in partnership with the South African Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) held a community consultation with the Khoi-San Rooibos farming community from Wupperthal in the Cederberg region. The consultation concerned the issue of access to indigenous biological resources by third parties and the benefit sharing thereof in accordance with  the Convention on Biological Diversity and the more recent  Nagoya Protocol. 

The NKSC and the South African San Council has been struggling for the last three years to get the South African Rooibos Industry to comply with their benefit sharing obligations under  Nagoya Protocol (CBD) and the South African Regulations on Bioprospecting, Access and Benefit-sharing.

The meeting was hosted by the Wupperthal Cooperative and DEA. At the consultation meeting, Mr Cecil Le Fleur, the chairperson of the NKSC, as well as Natural Justice, gave inputs on the negotiation process with the Rooibos Industry. The DEA then presented a recent Traditional Knowledge Report, commissioned by them, which confirms the Khoi-San as the Traditional Knowledge holders of the Rooibos plant.

Photo:Lesle Jansen/Natural Justice

During 2014 the NKSC made a national decision that the Khoi-San historical Rooibos farming communities should be the main beneficiaries in a benefit-sharing agreement with the Rooibos Industry. What the NKSC deems important is the recognition of the Khoi and San as the traditional knowledge holders to the uses of Rooibos.  The Cederburg belt region communities, such as Wupperthal is now forming part of the negotiating team with the NKSC and the SA San Council.

The Wupperthal community gave their support for negotiations to continue with the Rooibos Industry. Both the DEA and the NKSC will continue to hold legal empowerment meetings with the Khoi-San Rooibos farming communities in this region.

Rooibos Traditional Knowledge holders meet with Industry

Rooibos industry

Mr. Cecil Le Fleur, Chairman, National KhoiSan Council

The San and Khoi are the rightful knowledge holders regards traditional knowledge related to the rooibos plant, and they are currently negotiating with the rooibos industry in terms of the South African Access and Benefit Sharing legislation. They are legally supported by Lesle Jansen from Natural Justice and Roger Chennells from Albertyn Chennells Inc.   A basic industry-wide agreement is being sought, based purely upon traditional knowledge in the light of the South African legislation, which will simplify the access and benefit sharing and permitting requirements for the rooibos industry. The traditional rooibos farming communities will be the primary beneficiaries under any agreement reached.  The agreement will have significant benefits not only for the Khoi and San traditional knowledge holders, but also for the rooibos industry.  These stakeholders met on 2nd December 2015 in Clanwilliam to further develop these negotiations.

Harvested rooibos, South Africa

Traditional rooibos farming communities from Wupperthal and surrounding areas, South Africa

UCT Seminar on Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual Property Rights

Pelargonium. Copyright: African Centre

for Biosafety

On the 26th of August, the Law, Race and Gender Research Unit of the University of Cape Town (UCT) held a seminar on “Traditional knowledge, intellectual property rights power and benefit sharing: case studies/evidence from pelargonium, rooibos and hoodia.” Natural Justice and the African Centre for Biosafety were invited to attend the series and present on their work with African Indigenous peoples and local communities.

Gino Cocchiaro (Natural Justice) presented on the South African Rooibos–Nestle and San-Hoodia case studies. During his presentation, Gino also highlighted how biocultural community protocols have been used by some communities in Africa, Asia and South America to convey their ways of life, values, and customary laws to third parties and challenge the fragmentary nature of state law and incorporate community integrated perspectives.