Articulating identity and ways of life, systems of stewardship, customary values and laws, and procedures for engagement can catalyze constructive dialogue and collaboration in locally appropriate ways. The process of documenting, developing, and using a biocultural community protocol can involve a number of participatory approaches.

Building on years of experience with such methods and tools, a number of partners in Asia, Africa, and Latin America have collaborated to produce  the first version of " Biocultural Community Protocols: A Toolkit for Community Facilitators ".
The Toolkit is comprised of four parts:

• Part I : Understanding and Using the Toolkit
• Part II : Documenting and Developing a Biocultural Community Protocol
• Part III : Using a Biocultural Community Protocol
• Part IV : Reflecting, Reporting, and Revising

It is intended primarily for use by Indigenous peoples and local communities with support from long-standing and trusted organizations, where appropriate. The Toolkit is available for download in one document or in smaller components on the dedicated  community protocols website  ( www.community-protocols.org ), along with a number of  additional resources  such as e-learning modules on key legal frameworks, publications, and films.

We welcome feedback and suggestions regarding any of the materials ahead of developing a second version and translations of the Toolkit later in 2012. Please contact Holly Shrumm at holly@naturaljustice.org with any questions or inputs.