HIV/AIDS and the Environment - Linkages, Impacts and Actions Judy Oglethorpe, World Wildlife Fund Daulos Mauambeta, Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Nancy Gelman, Africa Biodiversity Collaborative Group

HIV/AIDS Statistics

Linkages between HIV/AIDS and Conservation Loss of capacity for conservation Increased natural resource use Changes in land use

Loss of conservation capacity Loss of human resources for conservation (capacity in Africa is already limited)

Loss of conservation capacity Loss of community champions Loss of social structures for resource management Less time in communities for CBNRM

Loss of conservation capacity Financial costs through diversion of conservation funds for:  Medical expenses  Sick leave  Terminal benefits  Funeral expenses

Natural resource use Natural resources provide alternative livelihood strategies (economic and food security benefits) medicinal plants wildlife food plants fuelwood

Natural resource use Timber wildlife charcoal medicinal plants This can result in overuse of resources

Land-use changes More extensive farming - often more damaging to biodiversity

Land-use changes Loss of indigenous knowledge about land management and resource use

Land-use changes Land inheritance – widows and orphans often do not inherit

Gender issues Early infection rates higher in women, e.g. Kenya

Gender issues Role of women: caring for the sick natural resource management mainstay of rural households

Longer term impacts Resource and environmental degradation Increased poverty Insecurity

Case study WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIETY OF MALAWI

Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS Justification for involvement in HIV/AIDS Conservation is: about people for people by people Since 1994 WESM has lost 11 people  7 staff  2 Spouses  2 Dependants  And several clients and partners

Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS: Strategies From 1999 WESM started being proactive about HIV/AIDS issues “breaking the stigma” Established office contact point Attended HIV/AIDS meetings

Strategies.. Conducting work place interventions: internal training awareness provision of condoms advisory services Developing and conducting awareness campaigns targeting communities

Strategies Targeting most affected households (e.g. guineafowl farming increased household income from $43 to $500 per year) Developing effective partnerships and collaboration with other stakeholders  Banja La Mtsogolo (Future Family), NGO  GTZ HIV/AIDS Project  OXFAM Malawi

Improving household incomes & nutrition

HIV/AIDS mainstreaming: strategies Setting aside budgets for HIV/AIDS  E.g. GTZ allowed 5% of total budget Lobbying leadership for commitment at all levels of Society

WESM Challenges Attitude change-long process Inadequate capacity-financial and human resources Traditional practices still strong amongst some tribes and cultures Cross-cutting issues: poverty, illiteracy and hunger

Conservation sector solutions Try to maintain capacity Conduct applied research and analysis to better understand linkages Seek alternatives to unsustainable practices and livelihoods Promote benefits of sustainable natural resource management to alleviate impacts of HIV/AIDS Communicate experiences / promote best practices

Try to maintain capacity Promote awareness Develop organizational HIV/AIDS policies

WWF EARPO HIV/AIDS Policy  No pre-employment screening  No mandatory testing but encourage it  Continued employment for infected persons  Fitness-to-work testing for staff on extended sick leave  Confidentiality and non-discrimination

KwaZulu Natal Wildlife’s Policy Providing HIV/AIDS awareness and wellness program for staff (e.g. Purchasing Moducare (Africa Potato) and vitamin cocktails to extend employees’ lives) Providing incentives for employees to seek HIV/AIDS testing Transitioning infected staff to easier duties Negotiated with three retirement funds to remove exclusion clauses about HIV/AIDS Formed partnership with local clinics/hospitals for employee care

Try to maintain capacity Adapt training programs: increase number of trainees, do short courses use innovative approaches (e.g. distance learning) train junior staff in leadership skills establish mentoring programs, on-the-job training mainstream HIV/AIDS in training courses

Try to maintain capacity Reduce separation of staff from families

Try to maintain capacity Consider providing anti-retroviral drugs for staff

What can the conservation sector do? - Seek alternatives Medicinal plants: improve harvesting promote cultivation improve extraction

Alternatives Find alternative materials for coffins Find alternatives to heavy agricultural labor Partner with other sectors to find solutions

What can the conservation sector do? - Communities Promote sustainable livelihoods through sound resource/land use and economic activities Train and mentor youth in traditional NRM Establish community grant funds

What can the conservation sector do? Research/analysis Increase understanding of interactions between HIV/AIDS and environment Quantify the true costs

What can the conservation sector do? Next wave countries Raise awareness in ‘next wave’ countries, e.g. Russia China India Nigeria Ethiopia Papua New Guinea

What can the conservation sector do? Best practices Seek, pilot, communicate best practices to mitigate impacts on land and resource use

What can the conservation sector do? Policy and advocacy Lobby leadership at all levels Promote multisectoral HIV/AIDS national policies Advocate for appropriate land policies

What can the conservation sector do? review longer term impacts to biodiversity conservation

ABCG: networking, awareness AWF: developing institutional policy CI: discussing at Annual Meeting WCS: using staff expertise on HIV/AIDS WWF: integrating into ecoregional programs Activities by ABCG Organizations on HIV/AIDS:

Multi-sectoral collaboration is essential for combating HIV/AIDS