2.5.2 - Proportion of local breeds classified as being at risk of extinction | SDG Indicators Data Portal | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Indicator 2.5.2 - Proportion of local breeds classified as being at risk of extinction

This indicator presents the percentage of local livestock breeds among local breeds with known risk status classified as being at risk of extinctions at a certain moment in time, as well as the trends for this percentage. The indicator will measure progress towards SDG Target 2.5.

Target 2.5

By 2020, maintain the genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated animals and their related wild species, including through soundly managed and diversified seed and plant banks at the national, regional and international levels, and promote access to and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, as internationally agreed.

Indicator 2.5.2: Progress Assessment

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Impact

Information collected for this indicator is key to safeguard precious animal varieties and support the livelihood of the world's population with sufficient, diverse and nutritious diets long into the future.

Key results

The proportion of breeds at risk of extinction remains worryingly high. Furthermore, the lack of data availability hinders a complete understanding of the scope of the issue for a majority of breeds.

As of 2024, the risk status of most local breeds worldwide is still unknown, with data available for only 42 percent of local breeds and 66 percent of transboundary breeds. Among the breeds with known status, local breeds are more frequently classified as being at risk of extinction compared to transboundary breeds – 70 percent versus 50 percent, respectively.

Regionally, Europe and Oceania report a higher proportion of local breeds with known status (68 percent and 58 percent, respectively) compared to the global average of 42 percent. Reporting on transboundary breeds is more consistent across regions. Among breeds with known status, Europe, Oceania and the Americas report higher proportions of breeds at risk: 83 and 53 percent of local and transboundary breeds are classified as being at risk of extinction in Europe, 91 and 47 percent of local and transboundary breeds in Oceania, and 61 and 45 percent of local and transboundary breeds in the Americas. In contrast, the proportions are significantly lower in Africa and Asia. Only 28 percent and 26 percent of local and transboundary breeds with known status, respectively, are classified as at risk in Africa, while in Asia, the figures are 31 percent and 29 percent.