Monitoring the implementation of the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources

In September 2007, the international community adopted the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources to ensure that the world’s livestock biodiversity is utilised to enhance global food security and remains available to future generations. The Global Plan includes 23 strategic priorities for action grouped into four priority areas: characterisation and monitoring; sustainable use and development; conservation; and policies, institutions and capacity-building. The main responsibility for implementing the Global Plan lies with national governments. Progress in the implementation of the Global Plan is monitored using two types of indicators. Process indicators are used to describe the extent to which the actions set out in the Global Plan have been implemented. Resource indicators are used to describe the state of animal genetic diversity itself and therefore the impact of the Global Plan. The indicators contribute to the measurement of progress towards Aichi Biodiversity Targets 13 (maintenance of genetic diversity), 7 (sustainable management of agriculture, aquaculture and forestry) and 4 (sustainable production and consumption). Information on the implementation of the Global Plan is obtained regularly from a number of sources, namely: national governments; regional networks; and international governmental and non-governmental organisations; as well as from the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS). Information from countries, regions and international organisations is drawn together and reported to the governing bodies of the Food and Agriculture Organization. The paper describes the monitoring system, its contribution to the measurement of Aichi Biodiversity Targets 13, 7 and 4 and the state of implementation of the Global Plan at international and regional levels.