Economic drivers

Reptile farming is well positioned to capitalize on emerging markets. Until recently, reptiles have been somewhat overlooked and undervalued due to colonial legacies and euro-centric agri-food tendencies towards warm-blooded livestock. Reptile products are mostly valued in the Global South where the impacts of climate change are predicted to be acute and the drivers for transformational change are dynamic. Dovetailing a novel agri-food sustainability concept with traditional cultural and culinary values in tropical regions offers unique economic opportunities. That said, future growth will depend on good farming practices and close supervision by veterinary and other authorities. Research on envionmental impacts and broader health implications (e.g., feeding unprocessed animal waste protein to reptile livestock) is essential. 

The reptile industry holds substantial growth potential. Established local and international markets exist for meat, skins, pets, and various body parts used in the pharmaceutical industry (e.g. squalene oil). Farmers are typically linked to multiple revenue streams and financial risks are spread across multiple geographies. These economic opportunities are complimented by the ability to scale management inputs and outputs in accordance with adaptive physiologies in order to buffer farmers against the impacts of economic and environmental shocks.

Many reptile production models are expanding via vertical and horizontal integration (i.e., emergence of corporate factory farms). Development approaches that focus purely on economic profitability may compromise the viability of small-scale production models and threaten key animal welfare, environmental, and social sustainability credentials. The loss of democratic food systems presents a risk to regional food security and food sovereignty.

Implementation
Review phase
Entirety
National
Multi-national
Global
Mario Ramírez, 2019
Central America
La Antigua Guatemala a living heritage: Integrating natural and intangible cultural heritage in the management and conservation of the city and its surroundings.
Profile picture for user mariusrap25_41920
Mario Raúl
Ramírez de León
Mario Ramírez, 2019
Central America
La Antigua Guatemala a living heritage: Integrating natural and intangible cultural heritage in the management and conservation of the city and its surroundings.
Profile picture for user mariusrap25_41920
Mario Raúl
Ramírez de León
Mario Ramírez, 2019
Central America
La Antigua Guatemala a living heritage: Integrating natural and intangible cultural heritage in the management and conservation of the city and its surroundings.
Profile picture for user mariusrap25_41920
Mario Raúl
Ramírez de León
Mario Ramírez, 2019
Central America
La Antigua Guatemala a living heritage: Integrating natural and intangible cultural heritage in the management and conservation of the city and its surroundings.
Profile picture for user mariusrap25_41920
Mario Raúl
Ramírez de León
Technology for Wildlife Surveillance Data Collection, Sharing and Management
WCS
Ranger using SMART cell-phone based technology
WCS
WCS
SMART for Health reporting and response cycle
WCS

WildHealthTech: WildHealthNet develops and employs innovative, appropriate, and user-friendly technologies for surveillance. With proven, globally distributed, open-source software (e.g., SMART for Health) and hardware like handheld cell phone devices for data collection and diagnostics, WildHealthNet supports effective and timely communication of data for improved reporting of wildlife health and rapid response.

- Cell-phone network accessibility and cell phone provision

- Human personnel to monitor network and data at the central level

- Access to a server

- Diagnostic capacity for safely testing wildlife samples for pathogens of concern (Point-of-care for some pathogens; in-country laboratories; regional laboratory networks, and agreements to support rapid and biosecure export, testing, and data sharing)

- Technical and analytical support

- Financing to enable technical support and capacity development for data platforms and data analysis

- Early detection of wildlife morbidity and mortality events facilitates a timely and appropriate response to disease threats; the inability to detect and identify the causes of mortality events is a major limitation in the protection of wildlife, livestock, and public health.

- Employing an already proven open-source and cell-phone-based technology through the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) platform used by rangers in close to 1,000 biodiverse sites across the world,  leverages an unprecedented network of globally distributed boots-on-the-ground and eyes-in-the-field that can act as sentinels for unusual events in remote areas. 

Planning phase
Inception phase
Implementation
Monitoring
Review phase
Local
Subnational
National
Multi-national
Global
SMART for Health
SMART for Wildlife Health Surveillance
WCS Mongolia
North and Central Asia
Integrated livestock and wildlife disease surveillance and response supports Saiga conservation and livelihoods in Mongolia
Lucy
Keatts
1. Multi-sectoral coordination for monitoring diseases at the wildlife-livestock interface
Collection of baseline wildlife health data
Local Capacity Building for Management of Disease at the Wildlife-Livestock Interface
Implementation of Effective Control Strategies for Disease Spillover From Livestock to Wildlife
WCS Mongolia
North and Central Asia
Integrated livestock and wildlife disease surveillance and response supports Saiga conservation and livelihoods in Mongolia
Lucy
Keatts
1. Multi-sectoral coordination for monitoring diseases at the wildlife-livestock interface
Collection of baseline wildlife health data
Local Capacity Building for Management of Disease at the Wildlife-Livestock Interface
Implementation of Effective Control Strategies for Disease Spillover From Livestock to Wildlife
WCS Mongolia
North and Central Asia
Integrated livestock and wildlife disease surveillance and response supports Saiga conservation and livelihoods in Mongolia
Lucy
Keatts
1. Multi-sectoral coordination for monitoring diseases at the wildlife-livestock interface
Collection of baseline wildlife health data
Local Capacity Building for Management of Disease at the Wildlife-Livestock Interface
Implementation of Effective Control Strategies for Disease Spillover From Livestock to Wildlife
Assisting the Community: Alternative Livelihood Measures
yes
Preparing soil for Ginger plantation
yes

With the forest left undisturbed, forest-dependent communities have few options for their livelihood sustenance. Therefore, the LEMSACHENLOK Society started to introduce alternative livelihood measures for the economically downtrodden. Income generation activities such as piggery promotion, ginger plantation, packaging and sale of certain products are initiated on our own small scale.

Acceptance of one’s specific role in a community-initiated work. We needed to prepare for possible livelihood alternatives, even including contributions from our own organisation. The Society’s management team had extended economic assistance by integrating income generation activities.

Global communities should recognize the indigenous communities that are involved in nature conservation, and facilitate to empower them to be an agent of change towards creating a healthy sustainable environment.

Planning phase
Implementation
Entirety
Local
National
Global
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