FAO highlights camels’ roles in fight against climate change

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
(FAO), in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture Jahad and the University
of Mohaghegh Ardabili, marked the World Camel Day 2023 on 22 June in Ardabil
Province.

The United Nations has designated 2024 as the International
Year of Camelids, acknowledging their role in protecting ecosystems, conserving
biodiversity, and ensuring food security in the face of climate change. Yubak Dhoj G C,
FAO Representative ad interim to Iran, in a message drew attention to the
critical global issues of food security and climate change, and the significant
role that camels play in addressing these challenges.

“Climate change exacerbates the risks to food security,
particularly for vulnerable countries and populations. It leads to the loss of
rural livelihoods, degradation of ecosystems, and disruptions in food systems.
Additionally, indigenous communities, who rely heavily on biodiversity for
their sustenance, face heightened vulnerability as biodiversity continues to
decline,” Dhoj G C stated.

In the livestock sector, which is crucial for global food
production, we encounter diverse challenges, including climate change, emerging
diseases, competition for natural resources, and evolving demand for
animal-source foods, he also warned.

Amidst these challenges, for centuries, camels have
sustained Bedouins, nomads, and pastoral communities, thriving in harsh
climatic conditions where other livestock struggle. Their adaptability,
docility, and sustainability make them an attractive prospect for domestication
and a vital addition to the food chain, he further highlighted.

Emphasizing the role of camels, he said that we observe
World Camel Day on the 22nd of June every year, and with each passing year, the
interest and support for camel development continue to grow, underscoring their
untapped potential.

“It is worth mentioning that FAO Iran, through its TCP
project on preserving the Bactrian camel, is at the forefront of efforts to
safeguard this exceptional species from the brink of extinction,” from
biodiversity conservation point of view, he further noted.

Today, our goal is to deepen policymakers’ understanding of
the camel's significance and advocate for its integration into research and
development policies. Together, we can work towards a more secure and
sustainable future for food production, Dhoj G C concluded.

FAO announced readiness to provide technical support to the
development of short-, medium- and long-term strategies for increasing
population of Bactrian camels, which is planned to be prepared by the
government, relevant authorities, and the Scientific Camel Association of Iran.

It is also concluded that the government to prioritize the
newly established Bactrian camel cooperative Co. and endeavor to raise more
(inter)national funds for conservation of Bactrian camels.

Also paying attention to Ecotourism with special focus on
introduction of Bactrian camels should be regarded by the provincial authorities,
as well as long-term planning for operational studies on Bactrian camels by
academic institutes of Ardabil Province.