Protecting climate, biodiversity and land through sustainable livestock systems

Context

Livestock systems in Africa and Latin America are particularly important for poor households. Animal products provide key nutrients and income for smallholder families. However, as temperatures rise and precipitation levels fall, climate change is making it more difficult to keep farm animals productive. Conflicts over grazing areas are on the increase. Livestock systems also emit considerable amounts of greenhouse gas and are a major cause of deforestation. Despite growing demand, there is a lack of both funding and policies in low-income and middle-income countries aimed at making livestock systems environmentally friendly.

Objective

Global, regional and national decision-makers have policy and funding instruments help protect the climate, biodiversity and land through livestock systems.

Approach

The project supports the African Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR). Working together with African Union member states, AU-IBAR develops a Common African Position on sustainable livestock that helps advancing policy priorities.

The project also strengthens the capacity of decision-makers to protect climate, biodiversity and land use in the livestock sector. It organises knowledge sharing, knowledge management and networking, enabling African and Latin American decision-makers to implement innovative policy and financing solutions. To this end, it draws on the knowledge of international partners such as the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).

The project also assists AU-IBAR and AU member states in mobilising more funding for sustainable livestock development. Here it cooperates with development banks that promote change, such as the African Development Bank and the World Bank.

Last update: March 2025