   |
|
afrol.com, 8 December - Every week the world loses two breeds of its valuable domestic animal diversity, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in its 3rd edition of the "World Watch List for Domestic Animal Diversity" released this week. In Africa, over 50 known, locally adapted breeds are now at risk of extinction and with them their genetic resources. Over the past decade, FAO has helped collect data from some 170 countries on almost 6,500 breeds of domesticated mammals and birds: cattle, goats, sheep, buffalo, yaks, pigs, horses, rabbits, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, pigeons, even ostriches. - In the past 100 years we have already lost about 1,000 breeds. Our new findings show that domestic animal breeds continue to be in danger: one third are currently at risk of being extinct, said Keith Hammond, Senior Officer of FAO's Animal Genetic Resources Group. In Sub-Saharan Africa, a total of 738 breeds have been recorded. Around 15 percent of extant breeds on file are at risk. "This is believed to be a gross underestimate of the actual situation," the report said. "The trends for the African region are alarming: The number of mammalian breeds at risk of extinction has increased from 8 to 19% since 1995. The situation with bird breeds is even more serious with the total percentage of breeds at risk of being lost increasing from 20% in 1995 to 34% in 1999." The FAO Global Databank for Farm Animal Genetic Resources contains information on 6,379 breeds of 30 mammalian and bird species world-wide. Population size data is available for 4,183 breeds of which 740 breeds are already extinct and 1,335, or 32 percent, are classified at high risk of loss and are threatened by extinction. - These are conservative figures, Hammond said. "Since 1995, the number of mammalian breeds at risk of extinction has risen from 23 to 35%, as countries have extended their surveys and updated their animal genetic resources data. The situation with bird breeds is even more serious, with the total percentage of those at risk of being lost increasing from 51% in 1995 to 63% in 1999. Alarmingly, without adequate action, a large number of domestic animal breeds at risk of extinction (2,255 breeds) could be lost within the next two decades." Domestic animal diversity is unique and cannot be replaced, Hammond said. - As much as novel biotechnology may attempt to improve breeds, it is not possible to replace lost diversity. Loss of diversity is forever. Biotechnology will not be able to regenerate diversity if it is lost. - The greatest threat to domestic animal diversity is the export of animals from developed to developing countries, which leads to crossbreeding or even replacement of local breeds, Hammond said. In developing countries, breeds from industrialized countries are still considered as more productive. The problem, however, is that these animals are mainly suited to the conditions of the country they come from and they have difficulty coping with the often harsh environment of developing countries. We estimate that 4,000 of the world's remaining breeds are still popular with farmers, but only about 400 are the subject of breeding programmes - almost all of them in developed countries, Hammond added. Domestic farm animals are essential for food and agriculture; they provide between 30 and 40 percent of the agricultural sector's global economic value. Around 2 billion people are depending at least partly upon farm animals for their livelihood. Meat, milk and egg production will need to more than double over the next 20 years to feed the growing world population. Farm animal production is also important for food, manure for fertilizer and cooking, draught power, fibre, hides and leather for clothing. - The often difficult environments in developing countries, with very hot, dry and humid climates, require particular types of animal genetic resources, that are adapted to them, Hammond said. "Maintaining animal genetic diversity allows farmers to select stocks or develop new breeds in response to environmental change, diseases and changing consumer demands. Genetic diversity is an insurance against future challenges and threats such as famine, drought and epidemics. Genetic diversity may contain valuable, but unknown resources that could be useful and essential for the future", Hammond added. Whilst the latest figures show there remains still much to be done, countries and regions have made major efforts since the last global analysis in 1995 to update their breed data for use in taking action, this latest analysis points to serious problems in all regions of the world. FAO said that using as many breeds as possible is likely to be the most cost-effective way of conserving and developing the animal genetic gene pool for the future. Sustainable utilisation and conservation are critical technical elements of the 'Global Strategy for the Management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources', which is currently being developed by FAO to assist countries. The management of animal genetic resources should involve all people, from farmers to policy makers. "Broader participation means better development and use of animal genetic resources." Source: FAO
|
Pages