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Foreword by the Organizers


The workshop was a first step in developing a conceptual framework for community-based management of animal genetic resources (CBMAnGR). This concept is based on the assumption that farmers are the custodians of farm animal genetic resources (AnGR) and are therefore best placed to manage these resources. CBMAnGR is an approach that integrates the livelihood needs of local communities (food security and poverty alleviation) and the call of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to conserve biodiversity in its "natural habitats" through sustainable use.

Objectives of the workshop were to:

Elaborate recommendations to policy-makers, donors, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other relevant actors of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region with regard to community-based in situ conservation;

Develop strategic elements for in situ conservation of AnGR at the political, institutional and communal level of the management of agricultural biodiversity;

Strengthen networking on AnGR in the SADC region and further the harmonization of AnGR-related national policies and strategies.

The workshop was planned and organized by the SADC/FAO/United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) project, "Management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources in the SADC Region", the Southern Africa Centre for Cooperation in Agricultural Research and Training (SACCAR), SADC Livestock Coordination in Botswana and German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), through the project "Managing Agrobiodiversity in Rural Areas". The Department of Veterinary and Livestock Services of the Kingdom of Swaziland hosted the workshop.

The workshop provided an opportunity for scientists, extensionists and representatives of NGOs from the SADC region to meet colleagues in other countries and exchange experiences and ideas. The participants were highly motivated and created a momentum for further developing and implementing the concept of CBMAnGR. The achieved results and recommendations provide input to SADC processes dealing with AnGR management and will be brought to the FAO and CBD processes for consideration. A recommendation was made to formulate policies for the support of CBMAnGR in the SADC region. The next steps will be the publication of the papers and case studies, and the outputs of the theme groups established.

We wish to thank all participants for their valuable contributions, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Kingdom of Swaziland for hosting the workshop, and various organizations for providing funds.

Dorah Vilakati, Ministry of Agriculture, Swaziland
Carter Morupisi, SADC Livestock Unit
Louise Setshwaelo, SADC/UNDP/FAO Project
Clemens Wollny, SACCAR
Annette von Lossau, GTZ
Andreas Drews, Consultant


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