Line of action:

Drivers of biodiversity loss

Status:

Finalizado

Execution date:

2019

Total budget:

€46,389.23

Amount of aid from the Biodiversity Foundation:

€37,111.38

One consequence of climate change, according to the entity, is the alteration of disease patterns in animals.
These alterations may include the emergence of new syndromes and a change in the prevalence of existing diseases, especially those that are vector-borne.
Vectors can reach new geographic areas by spreading to non-immune areas.
In addition, they can increase their period of activity and/or their period of transmission, thus increasing the risk of disease emergence in latitudes much further north than is currently known.
As ULEGA points out, livestock farming is suffering many losses due to diseases transmitted by vectors dependent on climate change.
The quantity and quality of livestock production will be affected, due to the convalescence of livestock, their slaughter or their isolation by medication.
Responses to these challenges require developing strategies to build adaptive capacity, not only of livestock professionals, but also of veterinary services.
These strategies will serve to strengthen and develop capacities to manage the health risks increased by climate change.

The main objective is the development and practical transfer of the strategy for adaptation and mitigation to climate change associated with disease transmission vectors in cattle.   Its specific goals include:

• To analyse and learn about the current technical evidence on the impacts of climate change on livestock diseases caused by transmission vectors.
• Integrate the knowledge and opinions of livestock sector actors (veterinarians and professionals), as well as animal health researchers, in the development of adaptation and mitigation strategies.
• Establish a strategy for adaptation and mitigation to climate change, linked to the problemof vector-borne diseases that affect livestock.
• Carry out a transfer and practical validation of the strategy for pilot livestock farms in Galicia, Asturias and Catalonia.
• Disseminate and communicate the results of the project.

• To study and compile evidence of the impact of climate change on the proliferation of vectors for the transmission of livestock diseases from other latitudes.
• To compile information through face-to-face interviews with professionals in the livestock sector and veterinarians, surveys and online questionnaires on the problems that the sector is experiencing and what their opinion is on the matter.
• To organise meetings with researchers in the animal health sector with the aim of providing better guidance on the use of available resources and technology .
• To generate a space for networking for analysis and discussion with researchers and professionals from the livestock sector together, exchange ideas and experiences, create initiatives and integrate all the information collected in the technical meetings.
• Create both a physical and virtual manual of adaptation and mitigation measures against transmission vectors, focused on breeding, get healthy heifers to replace sick cows.
• To analyse the state of animal health before and after applying adaptation and mitigation strategies in three pilot livestock farms in Galicia, Asturias and Catalonia.
• Disseminate and disseminate the project and the results with activities such as practical workshops with agents in the sector for the dissemination of the results obtained in the actual application of adaptation and mitigation measures; Publication and dissemination of technical manuals as a summary of the results of adaptation and mitigation measures and dissemination on a website and on social networks.

• A study of the evidence of climate change in the proliferation of vectors has been carried out.
• Information on the existing problems in the field has been collected through professionals from the livestock sector, veterinarians and animal health researchers, which has made it possible to make an assessment of the current situation.
  In this line, five diseases and five vectors of transmission have been identified.
• The study and analysis of the information collected has been reflected in the “Manual of Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies“.
• The proposed strategies have been validated in three pilot livestock farms.
• Interviews and surveys have been carried out with more than 500 agents involved in the livestock, veterinary and research sectors
• 10 practical workshops have been conducted, 250 strategy manuals have been produced and three articles have been published in an industry journal.