Each month one breed of domestic animals becomes extinct
Press Release of February 11, 2008
Radolfzell. The conservation of rare livestock breeds was the central theme of a workshop held last weekend in Kutna Hora near Prague. More than 40 experts from all over Europe met at the workshop. In works groups these experts met and discussed the breeding strategies needed for traditional livestock breeds, marketing strategies for the products from farms with traditional livestock breeds as well as the infrastructure needed for creating a network of rescue stations in Europe. The workshop was coordinated by EuroNatur and the SAVE Foundation.
“These days our livestock numbers are made up from very few breeds. Of the massive diversity of other breeds to be found in the world, one breed per month goes extinct” said the EuroNatur Executive Director Gabriel Schwaderer. Within the framework of the EU financed project “ELBARN” (European Livestock Breeds Ark and Rescue Net) EuroNatur is working together with a number of partner organisations to find an optimal way to coordinate the conservation and rescue of rare livestock breeds in Europe. A pan-European network of “Ark Farms” should be established which can be used in emergency cases so that rare breeds can be placed should their owners be no longer able to keep them. Alongside this, information about each breed, where it is to be found and the estimated population will be collated and available through an online database, which will be regularly updated.
Hungarian Steppe Cattle, Turopolje-Pigs and the Posavina-Horse are only a few examples of animals that will profit from ELBARN. “The breeds should not only be conserved in animal parks and zoos, they should also fulfil their role as an important part of the cultivated landscapes of Europe” emphasised Gabriel Schwaderer.
Further information about the project
For any questions:
European Nature Heritage Fund (EuroNatur)
Konstanzer Straße 22
78315 Radolfzell
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)7732 - 92 72 10
Fax: +49 (0)7732 - 92 72 22
E-Mail: info(at)euronatur.org
Press Contact: Katharina Grund
Contact person: Gabriel Schwaderer