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

This presentation explores the severity and implications of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on Africa's natural resources and conservation workforce. Various linkages between biodiversity, human health, and conservation are discussed. The economic and social impacts of HIV/AIDS on natural resource management are highlighted, along with coping strategies and vulnerabilities in the conservation sector. Additionally, the presentation delves into the implications of HIV/AIDS on community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) efforts in Africa.

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

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

  2. Dr. Jane Dwasi ConsultantAfrica Biodiversity Collaborative Group (ABCG) and FRAME jadwasi@yahoo.comSeptember 26-27, 2002ABCG ConferenceNairobi, Kenya

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Nature and Extent of HIV/AIDS Pandemic:

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. Characteristics of NRM & Conservation Sectors that Makes Them Vulnerable to HIV/AIDS: • 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. 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

  21. 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)

  22. 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

  23. 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

  24. 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

  25. 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

  26. 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

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