Livestock keepers

Animal Production and Health Division

Livestock keepers

Guardians of biodiversity

Year of publication 2009

Pages 72

Author Animal Production and Health Division

Product type Book (stand-alone)

ISBN 9789251063699

Series title FAO Animal Production and Health Paper

Series number 0254-6019

Edition 1

Full item page

Synopsis (short abstract) Smallholder farmers and pastoralists fulfill an invaluable yet undervalued role in conserving biodiversity. They act as guardians of locally adapted livestock breeds that can make use of even marginal environments under tough climatic conditions and therefore are a crucial resource for food security and possibly for adapting to climate change. But in addition, by sustaining animals on natural vegetation and as part of local ecosystems, these communities also make a significant contri bution to the conservation of wild biodiversity and of cultural landscapes. The Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources acknowledges and seeks to support this crucial contribution of smallholder farmers and pastoralists to keeping our planet healthy and diverse. The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues backs up this strategic approach and calls for it to be strengthened, while the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity also commits its signatori es to support in situ conservation by local and indigenous communities. This publication provides a glimpse into the often intricate knowledge systems that pastoralists and smallholder farmers have developed for the management of their breeds in specific production systems. It also describes the multitude of threats and challenges these often marginalized communities have to cope with and suggests interventions that can sustain valuable human-animal-environment relationships and co mbine conservation of breeds and their ecosystems with poverty alleviation.

Language English

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

Book (stand-alone)

FEED SUPPLEMENTATION BLOCKS
Urea-molasses multinutrient blocks: simple and effective feed supplement technology
2007

Also available in:

No results found.

In facing ever more limited resources and changing market conditions and in the attempt to enhance productivity for strengthening livelihoods, many technologies have been used to improve feed use and animal performance at the farm level. A particularly successful example, in terms of both geographic range of use and relative simplicity in formulation and preparation, is the urea-molasses multi-nutrient block technology. This publication provides a comprehensive overview of development and use of the block technology in countries around the world and it might be of great practical value to extension workers, students, researchers and those thinking of using such feed supplementation technology or of starting commercial production.
Book (stand-alone)
Assessing quality and safety of animal feeds 2004

Also available in:

Chinese

This publication provides the most recent information on the impact of animal feeds on food quality, food safety and the environment and thus improves the basis for managing such risks, which are increasingly at the centre of public and individual consumer attention.
Book (series)

Legal guide on school food and nutrition
Legislating for a healthy school food environment
2020

Also available in:

No results found.

A solid international consensus has emerged on the importance of nutrition for children’s development and well-being. At the Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2), the Member States of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) committed to developing policies, programmes and initiatives to ensure healthy diets throughout the children’s life cycle, emphasizing the potential of schools as platforms for integrated action. This Guide promotes a holistic and human rights-based approach to school food and nutrition, in which legislation is an indispensable tool to ensure the sustainability of public policy goals set by a country. In light of international law and standards, it provides practical information and guidance to develop or strengthen national legislation to improve food security and nutrition in schools as well as community development. The Guide presents a range of regulatory options and legislative examples of state practice that may contribute to building sound and coherent legal frameworks for school food and nutrition. It is a useful resource for law practitioners, policymakers, parliamentarians, and all actors who are involved in the design, implementation, or monitoring of school programmes and policies and most particularly, for those interested in taking legislative action (law-making or law reform).