Organisers: IUCN Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ECARO), Public Foundation CAMP Alatoo
Abstract
Changes in ecosystems, climate and intensifying human activities create new opportunities for zoonotic diseases to emerge and spread globally, impacting human and wildlife well-being. This led to developing and applying a joint approach for prevention, mitigation and response to global health threats. One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems. It recognizes the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and interdependent. Natural processes that maintain balance and regulate disease occurrence and transmission rates are now adversely affected by climate change impacts, disturbance and fragmentation of habitats, and increased contact points between native fauna with introduced and/or domesticated species – increasing the need to implement conservation measures.
Session objectives
This session aims to promote the One Health approach in nature conservation and highlight the contribution of conservation measures to it. The dialogue will discuss the role of expanded and better managed protected and conserved areas network, the IUCN Green List Standard application, improved conservation of wildlife species, enhancement of zoonosis prevention knowledge and capacities, shared databases and surveillance across different sectors, and the importance of strong institutions, laws and policies. The One Health approach makes it easier for people to understand the co-benefits, risks, trade-offs and opportunities to advance equitable and holistic solutions and implement joint responses to health threats.
Agenda
The session is structured as an expert dialogue, comprising three blocks:
1. Setting the Scene (5 min)
The principles and benefits of the One Health approach will be presented, as well as the role of nature conservation and collaborative multi-sectoral efforts to reach global health security.
2. Expert Dialogue (20 min)
This segment will feature contributions from invited regional speakers, representing perspectives from the government sector, research institutions, and CSOs on the One Health approach in nature conservation. They will reflect on the linkages between a healthy environment, animals and humans. The current project on Enhancing landscape resilience to zoonotic disease emergence by consolidating nature conservation systems in Central Asia will be outlined.
3. Open Discussion (20 min):
In this part, the wider expert audience will be invited to exchange experience, propose recommendations and discuss the One Health perspectives in the region and opportunities for new initiatives.
Speakers:
- Iskander Qutbiddinov, Deputy Minister / Mr. Jakhongir Talipov, Head of Department of International Cooperation and Grants, Ministry for Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan
- Aliya Ibraimova, Programme Manager, Public Foundation CAMP Alatoo, Kyrgyzstan
- Roman Jashenko, Director General and Vitaliy Gromov, Deputy Director, Institute of Zoology, Kazakhstan and Scientific Society Tethys
- Mirzo Mirzoev, Director, Tajikistan Nature Foundation