Switzerland, 17 Sep 2007
Some 9% alone have disappeared in the past 6 years. According to the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), one-fifth of all breeds are en-
dangered, and the genetic diversity within breeds and lines is decreasing.
ment. Delegates from 109 countries at this conference adopted the first internation-
ally agreed framework to halt the erosion of livestock diversity and support the sus-
tainable use, development and conservation of animal genetic resources.
than 160 countries have compiled Country Reports, contributing to The State of the
World's Animal Genetic Resources report developed under the leadership of FAO's
Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The report, together
with national and regional consultations and scientific studies, formed the basis for
the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources adopted in Interlaken.
tor their (risk) status, initiate conservation measures, and stimulate sustainable use
and diversity conservation. At the same time the signatories promise to improve
policies and enhance the capacity to address the loss of breeds and diversity.
vironment, improve food security and combat poverty. But it is not legally binding,
and its success will largely depend on how it will be implemented. So far firm finan-
cial commitments from the international donor and development community are
lacking. Governments and international organizations albeit recognizing the need
for and value of community-based conservation approaches tend to favour con-
servation through freezing cells and other genetic materials. But such conservation
measures alone are insufficient to halt breed and diversity loss.
struction of agrobiodiversity through livestock industries a point strongly criticized
by delegates of a Civil Society Forum held in nearby Wilderswil parallel to the FAO
conference. Most breed losses have so far occurred in the North. But rising exports
of high-yielding breeds and industrial livestock production into the South threaten
numerous local breeds that farmers and pastoralists have developed over millennia.
and pastoralists have made to breed development. But it fails to guarantee them
certain rights they need to continue their role as independent and responsible
breeders and breed managers. These "Livestock Keepers' Rights" include the right
to breed and make their own breeding decisions, and to participate in to participate
in policy-making processes on animal genetic resources issues. So it is question-
able how far the Global Plan will achieve its goals of widespread biodiversity con-
servation and poverty reduction. Only if governments empower the livestock keep-
ers in the communities to become key players rather than mere implementers will
the Global Plan have a chance to achieve its goals on a substantial scale.
Wolff, f.wolff@oeko.de
Bulletin); www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2007/1000650/
Rollefson ilse@pastoralpeoples.org (Livestock Keepers' Rights), Antonio Orati
mc2535@mclink.it (Civil Society Forum)