1. Zoonotic & Emerging Infectious Disease Impacts on Biodiversity Conservation & Conservation Linkages Africa Biodiversity Collaborative Group Washington, DC August 2008

2. Overview Background Impacts on Biodiversity Conservation Threat Reduction Strategies: What the Conservation Community Can Do

3. 61% of all infectious organisms known to be pathogenic to humans are zoonotic, readily transmissible between human and animal populations Approximately 75% of recent emerging infectious diseases have been zoonoses Avian Influenza Virus Ebola Virus Anthrax

4. Emerging or Reemerging Zoonoses in Africa Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus (H5N1) Ebola virus Monkeypox virus Bovine Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) Rift Valley fever virus Simian Foamy virus

5. Human-Livestock-Wildlife interface shapes the dynamics of disease emergence Factors Contributing to Disease Emergence: –Deforestation, land degradation, climate change and loss of wildlife habitat –Rising demand for animal protein Expected to increase 50% by 2020 (IFPRI) –Global trade in wildlife: > 1 billion incidents of contact annually amongst humans, domestic animals and wildlife (Karesh WB, et. al.. Emerging Infectious Diseases. July 2005)

6. Emerging Disease Impacts on Biodiversity Conservation “Animal populations are under heightened pressure to survive, and further loss of biodiversity is highly probable.” (One Health Initiative Task Force Report. JAVMA. July 2008) Impacts on Wildlife Impacts on Public Health Impacts on Livelihoods, Food Security and Sustainable Economic Development

7. Impacts on Wildlife Rabies in Serengeti National Park’s African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) population Potential “spillback” to domestic animal & human populations May 2005, Qinghai Lake Nature Reserve (China) H5N1 avian influenza outbreak: –estimates of 5-10% of world’s population of Bar-headed Geese (Anser indicus) lost to AI virus Direct threats to wildlife health

8. Impacts on Wildlife Losses attributable to the bushmeat trade –Livestock lost to disease may push higher rates of bushmeat consumption –Bushmeat hunting may facilitate disease emergence N. Kumpel A.Asamoah/GWS

9. Impacts on Wildlife Loss of biodiversity –Central Africa: Bushmeat industry accounts loss of >579 million animals annually (Karesh et al. 2005) –Infectious disease has the potential to: Push already threatened species rapidly toward local population extinction Reduce genetic variability essential for population health Provoke follow-on effects in interdependent species within a microenvironment –Incite fear or panic leading to calls for wildlife culls or habitat destruction as a disease control strategy

10. Impacts on Public Health Zoonotic threats to human health –Risks attributable to: Livestock-dependent livelihoods Proximity to wildlife/wildlife products –Costs: Loss of income generating capacity Inability to pay school fees; secure dietary staples Transport to a health care facility/clinic Medical treatment Caretaking demands upon family Possibility of disease transmission to family

11. Impacts on Public Health Loss of conservation capacity –Human resources already weakened by AIDS are particularly vulnerable –Potential loss of local and indigenous knowledge, skills and experience Costs of disease control measures –Livestock culls, quarantines, diagnostic tests, vaccination –Represent resources unavailable to conservation initiatives

12. Impacts on Livelihoods, Food Security and Economic Development Loss of income and threatened food security –70% of world’s rural poor--in Africa ~ 200 million--derive their livelihoods from livestock –Loss of livestock/reduced livestock productivity threatens income generation & protein availability –Impacts along the market chain: livestock holders, traders, fodder producers, butchers, market vendors Intensified land utilization & pressure on natural resources: charcoal making/timber, bushmeat, fishing, agricultural encroachment along protected areas

13. HPAI & Poultry Consumption Loss of Domestic Poultry –Poultry illness/loss of productivity –Poultry death –Poultry culls Loss of incomeLoss of income –Inability to pay for school fees, medicine, dietary staples Loss of protein nutritionLoss of protein nutrition Poultry Consumption Fears Tanzania: 27 million chickens, 70% raised traditionally by small holders Kenya: 30 million chickens, 80% raised traditionally by small holders; 2-3 chickens/rural household

14. Impacts on Economic Development Restricted economic growth –Export embargoes/trade restrictions –Potential losses to the commercial livestock industry –Pandemic emergence threats: Projected Pandemic Influenza Costs: –10-180 million deaths worldwide – Economic Impact: 2-3.1 % of global GDP (>2 trillion USD) ( World Bank) Threats to sustainable ecotourism initiatives –Kenya & Tanzania: wildlife based ecotourism generates half a billion USD annually (Chomel B, et al. Emerging Infectious Diseases. January 2007) –Community revenue sharing/park budgets threatened by disease-induced tourism declines

15. Threat Reduction Strategies Conservation of Wildlife Habitat –Disease impact assessments prior to resource extraction Disease Surveillance and Rapid Diagnosis –Wild Bird Global Avian Influenza Network for Surveillance (GAINS) –Expand successful community-based disease surveillance programs –UK’s RADAR (Rapid Analysis and Detection of Animal Related Risks) Education, Training, and Outreach –Risks associated with the bushmeat trade –Personal biosafety –Media outreach –Promote sound (livestock vaccination/behavior change) vs. unsound (wildlife culls) disease control strategies

16. Threat Reduction Strategies Preparedness and Response Planning –Design contingency plans to protect staff and conservation capacity in the event of a disease outbreak/pandemic event Food Security –Encourage diversified sourcing of dietary protein –Engaging private sector for low-cost commercial solutions Alternative Livelihoods Opportunities and Economic Stability –Diversified livestock/agricultural production/social service businesses –Broad-based programs addressing poverty, malnutrition and bolstering public health (clean drinking water) = improved resiliency to disease events & reduced pressure on wildlife/land/natural resources Multi-Disciplinary Approach