Page 20 - Vol.39-No.6

DAIRY FARMING

€25 MILLION TO ADVANCE WILDLIFE

CONSERVATION AND FOOD SECURITY

The Food and Agriculture Organization up the Programme’s findings, results and at national, regional and international levels.
of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed approaches to achieve greater impacts. For The initiative will continue to work with
€25 million in additional funding from the this reason, the European Union seeks to the Organisation of African, Caribbean and
European Union (EU) to extend and scale provide additional funding to continue the Pacific States and regional organizations
up the Sustainable Wildlife Management SWM Programme until June 2029.” in Africa.
(SWM) Programme.
Since 2017, the initiative has been
working with African, Caribbean and Pacific
countries to reduce unsustainable wildlife
hunting, conserve wildlife, and strengthen
people's livelihoods and food security.
The first phase of the initiative received
€45 million from the EU, with co-funding
from the French Global Environment Facility
(FFEM) and French Development Agency
(AFD). This second phase will run from Au-
gust 2023 to May 2029 and will be part
of NaturAfrica, the new EU initiative for
biodiversity conservation in Africa.
In this new phase, FAO will continue
to lead a consortium of partners, which Importance of the The SWM Programme contributes to the
includes the French Agricultural Research FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031,
Centre for International Development (CI- programme which supports the 2030 Agenda for Sus-
RAD), the Center for International Forestry Many rural populations around the world tainable Development through a transition
Research (CIFOR) and the Wildlife Conser- continue to rely on wildlife for food, in- to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and
vation Society (WCS). come and their cultural identity. Wild meat sustainable agri-food systems that deliv-
is an important source of protein, fat and er improvements in production, nutrition,
“The SWM Programme has a significant environment and livelihoods.
contribution to make as we work towards micronutrients. However, the increasing
a sustainable and food-secure world for demand for wild meat, especially in urban The Programme also contributes to many
all,” said Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy areas, is threatening wildlife populations, international strategies and priorities, in-
Director-General, FAO. “The initiative ecosystem balance, and food security of cluding the Kunming-Montreal Global
contributes to the implementation of the indigenous and rural communities in tropical Biodiversity Framework, the One Health
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity and subtropical regions. approach, and the Ramsar Convention on
Framework as well as to the “four bet- Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic Wetlands of International Importance.
ters” in the new FAO Strategic Framework highlighted the interdependence between Circle 21 on enquiry card
2022–2031. For example, the Programme human, animal and ecosystem health, and
is working towards “better nutrition” by illustrated the magnitude and diversity of
ADVERTISERS’
promoting safe food across wild and do- the consequences that the loss or deg- ADVERTISERS’
mestic meat value chains, and towards radation of biodiversity can have around
INDEX
“better environment” by developing in- the world. INDEX
novative approaches to improve practices, The SWM Programme aims to improve
build capacities to reduce zoonotic risks the sustainable and legal use of wild animal
and protect ecosystems.” populations through participatory manage- Aviagen ..........................................
The partnership is working with national ment of hunting, fishing and wildlife. It also ...................Inside Cover (English)
and regional administrations, and over 80 works on reducing urban consumption of
local and indigenous communities, in 16 wild meat from unsustainable sources by Agrame .........................................5
countries. The initiative is strengthening encouraging healthy and sustainable live-
innovative and collaborative targeted ap- stock, poultry and fish farming value chains. AgraME 2023 (Arabic) ................. 3
proaches to conserve wild animals, protect The initiative focuses as well on building
ecosystems, and improve the livelihoods capacity to reduce zoonotic risks at the Irrigation Show ............................9
of those who depend on these resources. human-domestic animal-wildlife and eco- Saudi Agriculture ..........................
“Building scalable new models to con- system interfaces by promoting the One .....................Inside Cover (Arabic)
serve wildlife and improve food security Health approach.
takes time,” said Marjeta Jager, Deputy VIV MEA 2023 (English) ..............3
Director-General, Directorate-General for Making a global contribution
International Partnerships (DG-INTPA), Eu- The new EU funding will be used to in-
ropean Commission. “We need to further crease the impact and sustainability of the
develop the models tested by the SWM Programme by completing the models and
Programme and to disseminate and scale sharing lesson learnt, tools and innovations

18 Vol. 39 No. 6