Animal genetic resources and pastoralism Beate Scherf Barbara
Animal genetic resources and pastoralism Beate Scherf, Barbara. Rischkowsky , Irene Hoffmann, Mateusz Wieczorek, Alberto. Montironi , Ricardo. Cardellino Animal Production & Health Division Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Presentor : Evelyn Mathias, League for Pastoral Peoples and Endogenous Livestock Development (LPP)
Content ¤ Global status of animal genetic resources ¤ Pastoralism ¤ Animal genetic resources in drylands ¤ Threats to pastoralism
Introduction ¤ Livestock genetic diversity for food and agriculture Ø animal species that are used, or may be used, for the production of food and agriculture, and the populations within each of them Ø populations within each species can be classified as wild and feral populations, landraces, standardized breeds, selected lines, varieties, strains and any conserved genetic material
Global strategy
What is pastoralism? ¤ Pastoralism = adapted land use strategy ¤ Mobility and mix of species and breeds allows Ø Use of scarce resources Ø Adaptation to seasonal changes and climate Ø Avoidance of diseases (e. g. tsetse flies) ¤ Possible through Ø Use of species adapted to drylands (camel, yak, donkey) Ø Development of adapted breeds (cattle, sheep, goat)
Pastoralists ¤ 190 million (? ) pastoralists ¤ Many different societies ¤ Occur especially in drylands: deserts, steppes, and mountains
Threats to pastoralism ¤ Value of pastoralism recognised only recently ¤ Threats (according to experiences LPP) Ø Reduced access to resources e. g. grazing lands through o agriculture (often irrigated) o recently: biofuels o national parks Ø Growing populations Ø Conflicts Ø Droughts Ø Education that disregards value of traditions
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