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Book (stand-alone)Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources and the Interlaken Declaration
Adopted by the International Technical Conference on Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Interlaken, Switzerland, 3-7 September 2007
2007Sustainable use, development and conservation of the world’s livestock genetic resources are of vital importance to agriculture, food production, rural development and the environment. In recognition of the need to develop an effective framework for the management of these resources and to address the threat of genetic erosion, 109 countries came together in September 2007 at the first International Technical Conference on Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture held in Inter laken, Switzerland. The Conference adopted the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources – which includes 23 strategic priorities for action to promote the wise management of these vital resources. The Global Plan of Action is the outcome of a country-driven process of reporting, analysis and discussion, which also resulted in the preparation of The State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, the first comprehensive global assessment of livestock diversity and its management. The Conference also adopted the Interlaken Declaration on Animal Genetic Resources, which affirms countries’ commitment to the implementation of the Global Plan of Action and to ensuring that the world’s livestock biodiversity is utilized to promote global food security and remains available to future generations. -
Book (stand-alone)The State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture 2007The wise management of the world’s agricultural biodiversity is becoming an ever greater challenge for the international community. The livestock sector in particular is undergoing dramatic changes as large-scale production expands in response to surging demand for meat, milk and eggs. A wide portfolio of animal genetic resources is crucial to adapting and developing our agricultural production systems. Climate change and the emergence of new and virulent animal diseases underline the need to re tain this adaptive capacity. For hundreds of millions of poor rural households, livestock remain a key asset, often meeting multiple needs, and enabling livelihoods to be built in some of the world’s harshest environments. Livestock production makes a vital contribution to food and livelihood security, and to meeting the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. It will be of increasing significance in the coming decades. And yet, genetic diversity is under threat. The reported rate of breed extinctions is of great concern, but it is even more worrying that unrecorded genetic resources are being lost before their characteristics can be studied and their potential evaluated. Strenuous efforts to understand, prioritize and protect the world’s animal genetic resources for food and agriculture are required. Sustainable patterns of utilization must be established. Traditional livestock keepers – often poor and in marginal environments – have been the stewards of much of our animal geneti c diversity. We should not ignore their role or neglect their needs. Equitable arrangements for benefit-sharing are needed, and broad access to genetic resources must be ensured. An agreed international framework for the management of these resources is crucial.
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Book (stand-alone)People and Animals
Traditional Livestock Keepers: guardians of domestic animal diversity
2007Also available in:
No results found.Achieving food security for all is at the heart of the mandate of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The key role of agricultural biodiversity in meeting this objective was once more emphasized by the Secretary-General of the United Nations on World Food Day in 2004, when he urged for greater attention to the role of biodiversity in the fight against hunger. By protecting and increasing the world's stock of genetic resources, small-scale farmers and herders are making an especially important contribution to food security. Their role as guardians of biodiversity has formally been recognized by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in article 8j. Furthermore, in Decision VII/3 the CBD invited all governments to mainstream agricultural biodiversity in their national plans, programmes and strategies with the active participation of local and indigenous communities. It also encouraged them to recognize and support the efforts of local and i ndigenous communities in conserving agricultural biodiversity. The Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture facilitates and oversees cooperation between FAO and the Conference of Parties to the CBD. It coordinates FAO’s interaction and work with the CBD and with other international bodies, in the areas of conservation and sustainable utilization of genetic resources for food and agriculture, as well as the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from their use. I n collaboration with livestock communities, research centres, universities, governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), FAO identified and documented 13 case studies on how communities manage their local animal genetic resources. These case studies demonstrate that local knowledge is crucial in preserving the equilibrium between farmers, their animals and the environment. However, livestock keepers’ role in maintaining this balance and conserving biodiversity is under a great deal of pressure from changing land tenure policies to the benefit of the private sector and the expansion of natural reserves. Formal government involvement could significantly reduce farmers’ exposure to these risks. This study aims to raise awareness and subsequently encourage decision-makers to include conservation and development of animal genetic resources in legal, regulatory and institutional planning.
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