1. HIV/AIDS and Conservation Update
Africa Biodiversity Collaborative Group
For CI Annual Planning Meeting
Interactive Session
4 May 2004

2. Linkages between HIV/AIDS and Conservation
Loss of capacity for conservation
Increased natural resource use
Changes in land use

3. Loss of conservation capacity
Loss of human resources for conservation (capacity in Africa limited)
Loss of community champions
Loss of social structures for resource management
Less time in communities for CBNRM
Financial costs through diversion of conservation funds
Loss of staff
Conservation using large workforce
Work in remote areas away from families
Limited access to HIV/AIDS awareness and condoms

4. Increased natural resource use
Natural resources provide alternative livelihood strategies (economic and food security benefits)
medicinal plants, wildlife, food plants, fuelwood
Can result in overuse of resources
timber, wildlife, charcoal, medicinal plants

5. Land-use changes
More extensive farming - often more damaging to biodiversity
Loss of indigenous knowledge about land management and resource use
Land inheritance –
widows and orphans
often do not inherit

6. Longer term impacts Resource and environmental degradation
Increased poverty
Insecurity

7. Conservation sector solutions
Try to maintain capacity
Conduct applied research and analysis to better understand linkages between HIV/AIDS and conservation
Seek alternatives to unsustainable practices and livelihoods
Promote benefits of sustainable natural resource management to alleviate impacts of HIV/AIDS
Communicate experiences / promote best practices

8. New Developments since 2003
International Conferences:
World Parks Congress
College of African Wildlife Management 40th Anniversary Symposium
Global Biodiversity Forum for Africa
World Conservation Congress
Organizational Policies:
Ezemeulo KwaZulu Natal Wildlife
Namibian Association of CBNRM Supporting Organizations (NACSO)
African Wildlife Foundation

9. New Developments since 2003
Field Activities:
AIDS Awareness to Action Campaign in Lengwe National Park, Malawi
Organization for Conservation of Natural Resources and the Combat of HIV/AIDS (OCRA), Kenya
Research by Kwa Zulu Natal Wildlife, South Africa
Research by FAO in the Miombo Woodlands
Community of Practice launched with USAID-sponsored FRAME