Dear reader,
With this issue of the journal, the editorial board bids a last farewell to Professor Salah Galal. We were deeply saddened by the news of Salah's passing. Our thoughts are with his wife and family. Salah served as editor of our journal for many years. We got to know him as a kind and knowledgeable team player, who was always available to assist his colleagues in case of need. After his retirement he remained active as a university professor, sharing his passion for animal genetic resources with his students. We shall miss him.
This issue features 13 articles, again with strong focus on the phenotypic and genetic characterization of local livestock breeds. However, it also includes an assessment of indicators for describing the risk status of breeds, an assessment of institutional capacities in animal genetic resources management and a paper on the possible impact of cross-breeding on the environment.
The papers published in this issue support the key findings of The Second Report on the State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, which will be launched in December 2015. The second report serves as an update of the first report, published in 2007, and was prepared based on information provided in 129 country reports, 15 reports from international organizations, 4 reports from regional focal points and networks for animal genetic resources management and inputs from 150 authors and reviewers. It provides a comprehensive overview of the management of animal genetic resources, focusing particularly on changes since 2007 when the first report was published and the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources was adopted. The key findings of the second report are as follows: (1) the roles and values of animal genetic resources remain diverse, particularly in the livelihoods of poor people; (2) livestock diversity facilitates the adaptation of production systems to future challenges and is a source of resilience in the face of greater climatic variability; (3) the adaptations of specific species and breeds to specific environmental challenges need to be better understood; (4) the impact of many livestock-sector trends on animal genetic resources and their management is increasing; (5) the world's livestock diversity remains at risk; (6) the assessment of threats to animal genetic resources needs to be improved; (7) institutional frameworks for the management of animal genetic resources need to be strengthened; (8) establishing effective livestock breeding programmes remains challenging in many countries, particularly in the low-input production systems of the developing world; (9) conservation programmes for animal genetic resources have become more widespread, but their coverage remains patchy; (10) emerging technologies are creating new opportunities and challenges in animal genetic resources management; (11) livestock diversity and the sustainable management of animal genetic resources are acquiring a greater foothold on policy agendas. The analysis presented in the report suggests that the strategic priorities for action set out in the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources remain relevant.
I kindly invite the readership of the journal to have a look at The Second Report on the State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The online version will be made available in pdf format at http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4787e/index.html. You will find it in e-book formats in FAO's e-book collection at http://www.fao.org/publications/e-book-collection/en/.
Yours sincerely,
Roswitha Baumung
