IPBES

Geographical scale of the assessment	Global
Country or countries covered
Any other necessary information or explanation for identifying the location of the assessment, including site or region name

Conceptual framework, methodology and scope

Assessment objectives

The State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, published in 2007, was prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with the aim of enhancing understanding and awareness of the status of animal genetic resources, the state of country capacity to manage these resources, and the state of the art in methodologies for their use, development and conservation. Preparation of the report involved a comprehensive global reporting process that aimed to develop national capacity and lay the basis for regular updating of data and information on animal genetic resources. The outputs of the assessment informed the preparation of the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources, adopted in 2007 at the first International Technical Conference on Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and subsequently endorsed by all FAO member countries.

The State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture: http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a1250e/a1250e00.htm

Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources: http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a1404e/a1404e00.htm

International Technical Conference on Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture: http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/genetics/angrvent2007.html

Mandate for the assessment

The report was prepared at the request of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) (as of June 2012, 175 member countries plus the European Union).

Report 8th Session of CGRFA (includes mandate for the assessment): ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/meeting/014/aj541e.pdf

CGRFA web site: http://www.fao.org/nr/cgrfa/en/

Conceptual framework and/or methodology used for the assessment

Other (please specify)

In 2001, FAO invited 188 countries to submit reports on their animal genetic resources and the management of these resources. A total of 169 country reports were received between 2002 and 2005, and these provided the main basis for the assessment. Data on national livestock breed populations were obtained from the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS), which is hosted by FAO and into which countries enter data on their breed populations. FAO invited 77 international organizations to provide reports on their work in the field of animal genetic resources management. Nine organizations submitted reports. FAO also commissioned 12 thematic studies on topics related to the management of animal genetic resources.

URL or copy of conceptual framework developed or adapted

The methodology is described in The State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a1250e/a1250e00.htm). Country reports: ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/a1250e/annexes/CountryReports/CountryReports.pdf Reports from international organizations: ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/a1250e/annexes/Reports from International Organizations/IntOrganisationReports.pdf Thematic studies: ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/a1250e/annexes/Thematic Studies/ThematicStudies.pdf Domestic Animal Diversity Information System: http://www.fao.org/dad-is

System(s) assessed

Marine
Livestock production systems worldwide

Species groups assessed

Domesticated mammals and birds used in agriculture and food production (for the list of species, please see The State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture).

Ecosystem services/functions assessed

Provisioning

Genetic resources
Livestock’s contributions to the production of food, fibres, hides and skins, fuel, transport and other products and services are described but not assessed in detail.

Regulating

Supporting Services/Functions

Livestock’s contributions to habitat maintenance, nutrient cycling, and soil formation and fertility are described but not assessed in detail.

Cultural Services

Livestock’s contributions to recreation and tourism and to spiritual, inspiration and cognitive development are described but not assessed in detail.

Scope of assessment includes

Drivers of change in systems and services

Yes

Impacts of change in services on human well-being

Yes

Options for responding/interventions to the trends observed

Yes

Explicit consideration of the role of biodiversity in the systems and services covered by the assessment

Yes

Timing of the assessment

Year assessment started

2001

Year assessment finished

2007

If ongoing, year assessment is anticipated to finish

Periodicity of assessment

Repeated

If repeated, how frequently

First report was published in 2007. Updated version is scheduled for 2015 or 2017.

Assessment outputs

Website(s)

http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a1250e/a1250e00.htm http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/A5.html

Report(s)

Communication materials (e.g. brochure, presentations, posters, audio-visual media)

FAO_Global_Plan_of_Action.pdf

Web site: “Implementing the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources” http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/A5.html (includes posters, films, audio material): http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/A5.html
FAO_GPoA_for_Animal_Genetic_Resources.pdf

Journal publications

Training materials

Breeding strategies for sustainable management of animal genetic resources: http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i1103e/i1103e00.htm
FAO_Breeding_Strategies_for_Sustainable_Mgmt.pdf

Developing the institutional framework for the management of animal genetic resources: http://www.fao.org/docrep/014/ba0054e/ba0054e00.htm
FAO_Developing_the_Institutional_Framework.pdf

Molecular genetic characterization of animal genetic resources: http://www.fao.org/docrep/014/i2413e/i2413e00.htm
FAO_Molecular_Genetic_Characterization.pdf

Phenotypic characterization of animal genetic resources: http://www.fao.org/docrep/015/i2686e/i2686e00.htm
FAO_Phenotypic_Characterization.pdf

Tools and processes

Tools and approaches used in the assessment

In 2001, FAO invited 188 countries to submit reports on their animal genetic resources and the management of these resources. A total of 169 country reports were received between 2002 and 2005, and these provided the main basis for the assessment. Data on national livestock breed populations were obtained from the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS), which is hosted by FAO and into which countries enter data on their breed populations. FAO invited 77 international organizations to provide reports on their work in the field of animal genetic resources management. Nine organizations submitted reports. FAO also commissioned 12 thematic studies on topics related to the management of animal genetic resources.

FAO_Detailed_Progress_Report.pdf

Process used for stakeholder engagement in the assessment process and which component

Stakeholder involvement was ensured through a country-driven process under the guidance of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. A wide range of stakeholders participated in the preparation of country reports, including government officials, scientific researchers, livestock-keeping communities, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, international research organizations and others interested in the diversity of livestock and their wild relatives. Stakeholders (about 500 people in total) met at subregional capacity-development workshops and a number of developing countries were supported by consultants in the preparation of their country reports. Guidelines for the preparation of country reports and other training materials were prepared to support the process. The training materials emphasized the involvement of national stakeholder and encouraged the establishment of national consultative committees on animal genetic resources.

Guidelines for the preparation of country reports: http://dad.fao.org/cgi-bin/getblob.cgi?sid=-1,50006167

Key stakeholder groups engaged

See above

The number of people directly involved in the assessment process

100-1000

Incorporation of scientific and other types of knowledge

Input from a range of stakeholders at country level was obtained via the country reports. Data on breed populations were supplied by national authorities via the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS). Thematic studies and the main report were prepared by technical experts drawing on scientific literature.

Supporting documentation for specific approaches, methodology or criteria developed and/or used to integrate knowledge systems into the assessment

FAO. 2001. Preparation of the first report on the state of the world’s animal genetic resources. Guidelines for the preparation of country reports. Rome (available at http://dad.fao.org/cgi-bin/getblob.cgi?sid=-1,50006167).

Assessment reports peer reviewed

Yes

Data

Accessibility of data used in assessment

All country reports, reports from international organizations and thematic studies used in preparing the assessment are included in the CD-ROM attached to the report and are available online at http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a1250e/a1250e00.htm (under Annexes). The Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS) can be accessed at http://www.fao.org/dad-is.

Policy impact

Impacts the assessment has had on policy and/or decision making, as evidenced through policy references and actions

The assessment led to the development and adoption of the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources, an internationally agreed framework for the management of livestock biodiversity.

Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources and the Interlaken Declaration: http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a1404e/a1404e00.htm

Implementing the Global Plan of Action for Anima Genetic Resources (web site): http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/A5.html

Independent or other review on policy impact of the assessment

Yes

Lessons learnt for future assessments from these reviews

An important lesson from the whole process is that regular communication with stakeholders greatly facilitates an assessment of this kind.

Capacity building

Capacity building needs identified during the assessment

Many gaps in capacity to manage animal genetic resources, particularly in developing countries, were identified during the assessment. These outputs informed the preparation of the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources, which includes 23 strategic priorities for action grouped into four strategic priority areas: Characterization, inventory and monitoring of trends and associated risks; Sustainable use and development; Conservation; and Policies, institutions and capacity-building.

Actions taken by the assessment to build capacity

How have gaps in capacity been communicated to the different stakeholders

The State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, its “in brief” version and the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources and the Interlaken Declaration have been widely distributed in several languages. FAO maintains regular communication with a network of National Coordinators for the Management of Animal Genetic Resources. The outputs of the assessment were discussed with partners from the centres of the CGIAR and other international organizations (several of which have provided reports on their activities in support of the implementation of the Global Plan of Action).

The State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture – in brief: http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a1260e/a1260e00.htm

Network of National Coordinators for the Management of Animal Genetic Resources: http://dad.fao.org/cgi-bin/EfabisWeb.cgi?sid=-1,contacts

Progress report of international organizations on the implementation of the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources: http://www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/022/am648e.pdf

Knowledge generation

Gaps in knowledge identified from the assessment

The assessment identified many gaps in knowledge about the characteristics of livestock breeds, their population sizes and risk status, and regarding methods for the management of animal genetic resources.

How gaps in knowledge have been communicated to the different stakeholders

The State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, its “in brief” version and the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources and the Interlaken Declaration have been widely distributed in several languages. FAO maintains regular communication with a network of National Coordinators for the Management of Animal Genetic Resources. The outputs of the assessment were discussed with partners from the centres of the CGIAR and other international organizations (several of which have provided reports on their activities in support of the implementation of the Global Plan of Action). FAO has produced several guideline publications that provide advice on how to address knowledge gaps.