Impacts of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic on Africa’s Natural Resources and the Conservation Workforce

Dr. Jane Dwasi Consultant Africa Biodiversity Collaborative Group (ABCG) and FRAME September 26-27, 2002 ABCG Conference Nairobi,

Purpose of the Presentation:  Raise awareness about the severity of the pandemic and the urgent need to focus on the impacts of the HIV/AIDS on natural resources and the conservation workforce  Illustrate some complex and critical linkages between biodiversity and human health  Discuss how the critical linkages can be translated into policy and practice with regards to HIV/AIDS  Information; efforts; planning & strategies

Objectives of FRAME and ABCG Studies: To examine:  linkages between HIV/AIDS and Natural Resource Management and Conservation  direct and indirect impacts of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on the use, management and conservation of NR using case studies of selected African countries- Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda  coping strategies that have been developed by the conservation sector  Methodology

Background on HIV/AIDS: Definition Concern about HIV/AIDS Social Impacts:  HIV/AIDS is of a high magnitude in Africa - hardest hit of all continents  Trends - variations between and within countries - higher and worse in sub-Saharan Africa - rate of infection, prevalence, death rates and number of orphans increasing  Affects people during their most productive years- ages 15 and 49

Nature and Extent of HIV/AIDS Pandemic :

Nature and Extent of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic:  Transmission is usually through heterosexual intercourse and not otherwise  Has become the leading cause of death  Reduced life expectancy - implications for conservation training  Reduced fertility rates  Changing social structures- creating an imbalanced social structure with widows, orphans and the elderly forming the majority  Eroding social structures on which NRM & Conservation at the community level is based - e.g. CBNRM

Nature and Extent of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic: Economic Impacts:  Increasing cost of treatment  Estimated cost of medical treatment: $ 462 per person/year government expense  One company spent $ 496,000 on HIV/AIDS- related medical expense in a 9-year period- mirrors conservation sector exp.  Funeral expenses: $533-$1,100 each  Lost wages per lifetime for average infected person: $ 7,180  Sale of resources

 Work at many different levels including: central/local government, NGOs and communities -Requires human factors- labor, skills, expertise, finances  Requires a large workforce - Soil conservation measures, such as tree-planting on slopes, terracing, and rhino capture require able- bodied men and women - Protection of forest and wildlife from illegal logging and poaching requires reliable, skilled protected area personnel  Require trained personnel Characteristics of NRM & Conservation Sectors that Makes Them Vulnerable to HIV/AIDS:

Characteristics of NRM & Conservation that makes them Vulnerable to HIV/AIDS Major investment in training and capacity building  -Sokoine University Tanzania- Five-year Bachelors degree in veterinary medicine- $ 15,000  -A Three-year Tourism Management course at Utalii- U.S. $ 20,000  -Royal Vet. College, London- Master’s degree in Wild Animal Health- U.S. $ 17,000/year

Characteristics of NRM & Conservation Sectors that Makes Them Vulnerable to HIV/AIDS:  Often requires staff to train, travel and work away from families, which increases chances of infection  Conservation personnel are often posted in remote locations away from their families, which increases chances of infection  Information about HIV/AIDS and resources to address the problem often not available  Mitigation methods such as condoms may not be accessible

Characteristics that Makes CBNRM More Vulnerable to HIV/AIDS: -Are community-led efforts aimed at fostering the productive and sustainable use of surrounding wildlife, soil, water, forests, fisheries resources, -CBNRM approaches are increasingly being adopted throughout the continent by governments and NGOs -CBNRM is more vulnerable to the accelerated rates of long periods of AIDS illnesses and deaths  CBNRM involves strengthening the capacity of rural communities and empowering them to manage their NR sustainably

Characteristics of CBNRM:  Community-level activities require substantial and sustained capacity building and support [training, education on NRM-related issues, rural institutional development]  Social structures at the local level often lend themselves to the spread of HIV/AIDS; and allow HIV/AIDS impacts on NRM & C  Social structures in rural communities on which CBNRM is based are being eroded by HIV/AIDS

Factors that make natural resources Vulnerable to HIV/AIDS  Africa is the continent whose largely rural populations are most heavily dependent on natural resources for their livelihoods  Many Africans use medicinal plants and other wildlife for the treatment of HIV/AIDS-related illnesses  Increased rate of extraction of natural resources to meet old and new (HIV/AIDS) demands

Impacts of HIV/AIDS on NRM & Conservation:  Workforce - Government Agencies, NGOs, and communities affected  Conservation Activities - planning, duty roster, managing with fewer/untrained staff, lost skills, some areas are ignored/neglected  Finances -Training expenses -medical expenses, funeral expenses, terminal benefits, training expenses

Impacts of HIV/AIDS on NRM & Conservation:  Increased the potential for competition for resources between HIV/AIDS demands and NRM & Conservation  Impacts on natural resources - Land Use changes - Farming - Indigenous knowledge loss -- impacts on biodiversity

Impacts of HIV/AIDS on NRM & Conservation:  Land ownership changes- impacts on biodiversity  Impacts on wildlife - Increased poaching - Over-harvesting of turtle eggs  Impacts on forests - Over-harvesting of medicinal plants  Impacts of NRM & Conservation on HIV/AIDS

Coping Strategies: Government Agencies: KwaZulu Natal Nature Conservation Service  Use of Plant Resources from Protected Areas  HIV/AIDS Policy  HIV/AIDS Awareness Education  Condom Availability  Well-Being Program: - Voluntary Counseling & Testing - Links with Traditional Healers - Arrangements for Discounts  Networking with NGOs & Provincial Government  Medical Boarding TANAPA Uganda Example

Coping Strategies: NGOs: e.g. WWF- EARO HIV/AIDS Policy: Disseminates HIV/AIDS Information-library Provides guidelines on dealing with HIV/AIDS Prevent discrimination and stigmatization of infected staff Prevent undue liability in handling HIV/AIDS cases (medical cover) Insurance policy requirements for HIV testing Continued employment of HIV-infected persons Sick Leave Statutory requirements

Coping Strategies: NGOs: e.g. NNF HIV/AIDS Policy:  Alternative Positions  Retirement Benefits NGOs: e.g. IRNDC HIV/AIDS Policy:  Private one-on-one talks on HIV/AIDS with the staff  Talks about HIV/AIDS at meetings with staff  Dramas and Plays staged for Staff

Coping Strategies: Communities/CBNRM:  HIV/AIDS Awareness posters in Conservancy offices  Constructions of clinics in communities adjacent to Protected Areas (reduces impacts on medicinal plant harvesting)

Coping Strategies:  Not all have come up with coping strategies  Communities adjacent to Protected Areas - have coping strategies that are sound, but have negative effects on biological diversity and other aspects of NRM & Conservation e.g. the Stretcher Associations

Recommendations: General:  Share findings with Natural Resource institutions in other regions so they can prepare for the HIV/AIDS pandemic  Conduct further analysis to identify and develop more coping strategies  Monitor impacts over the long-term  Incorporate HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention, and mitigation components into conservation activities at all levels

Recommendations: Conservation NGOs:  Incorporate HIV/AIDS in program & project planning  Help leverage funding for African conservation NGOs, government agencies, and communities to take preventive and ameliorative measures  Partner with population, health, and development NGOs on HIV/AIDS activities  Conduct internal audits of impacts of HIV/AIDS and necessary coping strategies including staff training and HIV/AIDS policies

Recommendations: Governments:  Need Strong, Committed, and Consistent Political Will and Leadership in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS  Apply Multi-Sectoral Approach  Create of An Effective HIV/AIDS Program  Use Role Models as Vehicles for Change  Make Institutional Assessment of HIV/AIDS Impacts - Finances, Human Resources, Planning, Investments

Recommendations: Communities:  Raise HIV/AIDS Awareness, Prevention and Mitigation at local level  Network with Institutions, Organizations, and Individuals including health, population, and development sectors  Promote Good Governance  Help empower young women to have alternatives and control sexual behavior  Use theater, dramas, posters and other methods to raise HIV/AIDS awareness  Establish mentoring programs on indigenous knowledge