From analysis to action
The picture that emerges from the above analysis is clearly one of urgency and at the same time of complexity. The urgency stems from the dramatically increasing demand for livestock products and, as a result, the far-reaching changes in the structure of global livestock production. The complexity stems from livestock's use by society for multiple needs, producing in the process multiple environmental benefits and costs. Moreover, livestock-environment interactions are typically second level problems, because it is not livestock per se, but the way in which livestock are used by growing human populations that governs their impact on the environment. The purpose of livestock is determined by human needs, and technology translates these into different levels of natural resource use and sustainability. Quite clearly, livestock do not set out to destroy the environment, it is the socio-economic-political context, defined by humans, which determine livestock's effect upon their surroundings (Box 6.1).
| Box 6.1 Scapegoats and missed opportunities. |
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| Perhaps it is no coincidence that the scapegoat is an animal. From statements like: “Livestock have been criticised for damaging the environment in a number of ways" (FAO, 1995) and "Livestock have been charged with wholesale devastation of African rangelands and irreversible destruction of soils - desertification" (Winrock International Institute, 1992), it would appear that livestock themselves go out and decide to destroy or not to destroy our environment. Two centuries after the age of enlightenment we are still in need of a scapegoat, literally. Livestock do not move, produce or reproduce without us wanting them to do so. They are completely dependent upon us. Livestock do not degrade - humans do by their management of livestock. As a result of these misconceptions about livestock development institutions and governments continue to miss opportunities which would permit the livestock sector to make its full contribution to human welfare and economic growth. |
While the analysis has focused on problem areas, let us not forget that there are large areas where livestock have remained in equilibrium with natural resources and, even more importantly, are helping to maintain ecosystem health, diversity, flexibility and societal cohesion. Livestock and the environment can achieve a balance while at the same time fulfilling humanity's food needs and contributing to sustainable economic growth. Thus, within the complexities of livestock-environment interactions, this study shatters widely held perceptions about livestock playing only a negative role in any particular ecosystem. However, this study highlights also that there are important situations, where livestock are out of balance with the absorptive capacity of soil, water and air. Land degradation, deforestation, water pollution, greenhouse gas emission and loss of plant and animal genetic resources are the result. And in these areas urgent action is required. Following the conceptual models described in Chapter I, this chapter will summarize the analysis from the preceding chapters and recommend courses of action.
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