At the next Expert Talk, Prof. Dr. Jan Felix Drexler will discuss the animal origins of zoonotic viruses and anthropogenic changes facilitating virus emergence with us. Through many years of experience in researching emerging viral diseases and working in biodiversity hotspots as a virologist at Charité, he will give us a particularly good insight and overview of this topic.
Under the direction of Jan Felix Drexler, the Charité is working on the project ‘Health Monitoring of Animals Subject to Illegal Trafficking from the One Health Perspective‘ together with ARCAS Wildlife Protection in Guatemala. The main objective of this project is to strengthen the regional knowledge on One Health issues, through the generation of information on pathogens in wild animals, produce a bank of adequately managed and preserved samples, and training the staff of institutions related to this work and topic.
Jan Felix Drexler is Head of the Virus Epidemiology laboratory and an Associate Professor at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Following medical education in Germany and Brazil, he worked as a staff scientist and professor in Brazil, Germany and the Netherlands. His group focuses on the evolution and epidemiology of emerging viruses at the animal-human interface. Since 2006, he has published >230 peer-reviewed papers, accumulating >10000 citations, an h-index of 50 (Web of Science) and >22 million € extramural funding.
About the Alliance
The International Alliance against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade serves as an inclusive and interdisciplinary platform to discuss challenges and formulate solutions vis-á-vis human-wildlife interfaces and associated health risks and the emergence and spread of zoonotic pathogens from wildlife. The Alliance is aiming to enhance international and national awareness, knowledge, policies and action, not least by narrowing the gap between science and implementation.
We are very much looking forward to the kick-off event for our guiding question about the identification of unknown pathogens and how this can contribute to pandemic prevention and risk reduction in wildlife trade. Please feel free to forward and share this invitation with interested colleagues.
Following the world zoonoses day on 6th July, there will be a webinar from our member organisation Pro Wildlife on the topic of zoonoses and bushmeat in Africa on
Pro Wildlife is a non-profit association based in Germany, which is concerned with wildlife and wildlife protection. Currently, their project: “A Transnational African Zoonosis Education campaign: Raising awareness for wildlife trade-linked health risks”, is being implemented, which is funded by the Alliance. The broad-based campaign aims to change behaviour towards wildlife with a new approach. The goal is to reduce the risks of zoonotic spill overs in four relevant African countries by creating public awareness on the ground for human health risks, linked to wildlife trade, and promoting the One-Health approach. Pro Wildlife uses and expands the existing experience and structures of education programs at four rescue centres, under different conditions (such as consumed species range, rural vs. urban target consumer groups, and responsible government agencies). By using a wide range of communication tools the project aims to increase awareness about potential health risks from contact with wildlife, to discourage hunting, trade and wildlife consumption, to suggest alternatives, and motivate responsible government agencies to initiate necessary actions. Creating a consortium of rescue centres and learning from each other will facilitate the exchange of knowledge, resulting in timely adjustments of education tools, and the development of new strategies – including activating influential stakeholders as multiplicators.
During the webinar, the project partners from four African countries – Liberia, Nigeria, Cameroon and Zambia – will talk about their work in Wildlife Rescue Centres. The event will be joined by guest speaker Dr Egbetade Adeniyi, from University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, who is an expert for diseases of captive wild animals and molecular epidemiology of viruses of non-human primates. Furthermore, Isabel Michler from the Secretariat of the International Alliance against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade will introduce the Alliance to the Webinar audience.
Please forward and share this invitation with interested colleagues. We hope to see you on Saturday!
Tags: Members Event, Webinar, Zoonoses, Bushmeat, Africa, Education
Gain deeper insights into the work of the International Alliance against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade, membership, upcoming events, and have all your questions answered during a Q&A.
We are looking forward to exchanging with you!
Best regards,
Secretariat of the International Alliance against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade
We are delighted to invite you to a captivating side event that will showcase the remarkable work of the Alliance at the upcoming Animals Committee meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Geneva. CITES is an international agreement between governments which aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species (CITES website).
If you happen to be in Geneva, we warmly encourage you to seize this opportunity and join us at the side event. Immerse yourself in the dynamic discussions, exchange ideas with experts, and learn more about the Alliance’s collaborative efforts!
We cordially invite you to this year’s Plenary Meeting on 6 June from 14:00-16:00 CEST to review the activities of the past year, to discuss current developments and to look forward to the year ahead. The meeting will be held via Teams, the link to the event can be found at the bottom of this invitation.
If you have any topics of your own, please feel free to suggest them in the coming weeks.
A detailed agenda will be provided prior to the meeting. We look forward to seeing you all in June!
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) is an intergovernmental organisation, that focuses on transparently disseminating information on animal diseases, improving animal health globally and thus building a safer, healthier and more sustainable world. The upcoming Expert Talk will provide a global overview of WOAH’s activities on wildlife health and wildlife trade in general. François Diaz, Scientific Coordinator for Wildlife and Bees, Preparedness and Resilience Department (WOAH) will introduce to the Alliance the “Guidelines for reducing the risk of disease spillover events at markets selling wildlife and along the wildlife supply chain”, and eventually the future WOAH activities on wildlife trade.
Dr François Diaz works at the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). He is scientific coordinator for wildlife and bees at the WOAH Headquarters in the Preparedness and Resilience Department. He works on wildlife and biodiversity, bee health, and the international transport of diagnostic specimens. A French national, Dr François Diaz was awarded a degree of Doctor of Pharmacy and also obtained a Masters degree in International Law and law of International Organizations.
About the Alliance
The International Alliance against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade serves as an inclusive and interdisciplinary platform to discuss challenges and formulate solutions vis-á-vis human-wildlife interfaces and associated health risks and the emergence and spread of zoonotic pathogens from wildlife. The Alliance is aiming to enhance international and national awareness, knowledge, policies and action, not least by narrowing the gap between science and implementation.
We are very much looking forward to hear about François Diaz’ activities at WOAH. Please feel free to forward and share this invitation with interested colleagues.
The “Next Generation One Health Philippines”-Team is inviting you to their three-part webinar series, the Juan Health Conversations!
Heeding the call to promote the One Health approach in addressing illegal wildlife trade and biodiversity loss, NGOHP is organizing Juan Health Conversations, a three-part webinar series that aims to localize and introduce One Health to every Juan!
The first part of the series will explore the link between wildlife and pandemics through a panel interview session with our One Health fellows from the medical and biological fields. Register here.
Panelists:
Al John Cabanas, MS, Wildlife Biologist
Al John received his Master of Science in Wildlife Studies with a minor in Animal Science from the University of the Philippines Los Baños. He currently works as an instructor for the Mathematics and Natural Sciences Department of the College of Arts and Sciences at the Southern Luzon State University. He also works as a researcher focusing on camera trapping and studying human-wildlife conflict.
Jamaica Caras, MS, Microbiologist
Jam earned her Master’s Degree in Environmental Science at the University of the Philippines – Diliman. She works as a senior science research specialist at the Microbial Ecology of Terrestrial and Aquatic Systems Laboratory at the Institute of Biology, University of the Philippines – Diliman. She has handled multiple projects relating to microbiology and research on cetacean health in accordance to the principles of One Health.
Von Carlo dela Torre, MS, Ecologist
Von earned his Master of Science in Biology degree from the Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology. He is currently an instructor teaching Biology at the Department of Biological Sciences and Environmental Studies at the College of Science and Mathematics, University of the Philippines – Mindanao. He has handled multiple projects related to biodiversity assessment in Mindanao.
Carah Lyn Lo, MD, MS, Physician
Carah has a Master of Science Degree in Wildlife Studies with a minor in veterinary science from the University of Philippines – Los Banos and received her Doctor of Medicine degree from the De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute. She is currently working in multiple hospitals as a specialist.
Macy Manalo, DVM, MZOH, Veterinarian
Macy is a licensed veterinarian and received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of the Philippines Los Banos. She recently completed her Master’s in Zoonoses and One Health from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and is currently an assistant professor teaching Veterinary Medicine at the Department of Veterinary and Paraclinical Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the Philippines – Los Banos.
Date and time: April 22, 2023 (Saturday), 5:00 PM PHT/GMT+8
Registration is FREEand we encourage everyone to join!
Click “Add to your calendar” after registration for easy access to your Zoom link
Event in English with French and Spanish simultaneous interpretation
Overview
Reducing close interactions between wildlife, domesticated animals, and humans, and managing the associated risks will play a key role in preventing the likelihood of spillover events and the subsequent spread of zoonotic diseases.
Land use change associated with trends such as intensified or expanding agriculture and livestock production, encroachment into wildlife habitats for extractive industries, and the trade in wildlife areamong the direct drivers with the greatest potential influence on zoonotic disease emergence.
A critical component of the GEF-8 Wildlife Conservation for Development Integrated Program currently being established, is on raising awareness and increasing understanding of zoonotic and other emerging disease spillover risks and prevention opportunities.
The webinar will discuss primary drivers of disease emergence related to wildlife, existing national-level practices to strengthen preventative and regulatory measures in wildlife management and trade, and will discuss how wildlife considerations can better integrate into One Health frameworks and regulation.
Speakers
Franck Berthe, Senior Health Specialist, One Health Lead, The Pandemic Fund, World Bank
Catherine Machalaba, Principal Scientist for Health and Policy, EcoHealth Alliance
Dao Nguyen, Senior Programme Manager, Conservation Action, IUCN’s CMS Focal Point, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Kalpy Julien Coulibaly, Head of Department of Environment and Health, Pasteur Institute of Côte d’Ivoire
François Diaz, Scientific Coordinator for Wildlife and Bees, Preparedness and Resilience Department, World Organisation on Animal Health (WOAH, founded as OIE)
Discussant
Jackson Katampi, Zambia National Coordinator, IUCN Green List for Protected and Conserved Areas, Ministry of Tourism and Arts, Department of National Parks and Wildlife
Moderators
Lisa Farroway, Senior Environmental Specialist and Program Manager, Global Wildlife Program, World Bank
Monica Zavagli, Counter Wildlife Trafficking Specialist, Global Wildlife Program, World Bank
Speakers Bios
Franck Berthe, Senior Health Specialist and One Health Lead, The Pandemic Fund, World Bank
Franck is a Senior Health Specialist and One Health Lead at the Pandemic Fund, hosted by the World Bank. He has extensive experience in public health issues across the agriculture, environment, water, and public health sectors. He provides technical assistance to reduce risks at the interface of human, animal, and ecosystems in various regions. Previously, he served as Head of the Animal Health and Welfare Unit at the European Food Safety Authority, Professor at the Atlantic Veterinary College, and Head of an EU Reference Laboratory. He has also served as an expert for the World Organisation for Animal Health and is currently a member of the Lancet One Health Commission. Franck has contributed to several global analytical pieces on health security, food safety, and antimicrobial resistance. He holds a DVM, a PhD in molecular biology, and a Pasteur Institute diploma in bacteriology and molecular epidemiology.
Catherine Machalaba, Principal Scientist for Health and Policy, EcoHealth Alliance
Catherine is the Principal Scientist for Health and Policy at EcoHealth Alliance. She was a lead author of the World Bank One Health Operational Framework published in 2018, which was designed to assist countries and donor institutions in implementing One Health approaches. She is also a member of the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP), which was formed in 2021 to advise the FAO, UNEP, WHO, and WOAH. Catherine holds leadership roles in the American Public Health Association and served as a program officer for the IUCN Species Survival Commission Wildlife Health Specialist Group for ten years. She works on several protected area management and wildlife conservation projects, integrating a One Health approach. Catherine holds a master’s degree in public health and a PhD in environmental and planetary health sciences.
Dao Nguyen, Senior Programme Manager, Conservation Action IUCN’s Convention on Migratory Species Focal Point, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Dao Nguyen is the Senior Programme Manager, Conservation Action at the Species Conservation Action Team, Centre for Conservation Action, IUCN Secretariat, based in Gland, Switzerland. She has been working on biodiversity conservation issues for 25 years from Vietnam, Seychelles, Australia, with over 10 years’ experience in engaging with international biodiversity policy processes.
Dr. Kalpy Julien Coulibaly, Head of Department of Environment and Health, Pasteur Institute of Côte d’Ivoire
Kalpy Julien is a medical doctor with a PhD in Human and Tropical Biology, specializing in microbiology. He works as a General Practitioner at the University of Abidjan and serves as a Medical Biologist at the Pasteur Institute of Côte d’Ivoire since 2009. His research is mainly focused on water, food, and animal-borne infections. Dr. Kalpy has directed the Unit of Chemistry and Environmental Microbiology and the National Reference Center for Salmonella since 2011 and has led several projects including PREDICT 2 and WASAF. In 2015, he was promoted to Head of the Environmental Health Department and currently focuses on animal and environmental health risks. He is certified in Biorisk and Project Management according to PRINCE 2 by IFBA. Additionally, he has been actively involved in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response since 2021.
Francois Diaz, Scientific Coordinator for Wildlife and Bees, Preparedness and Resilience Department, Organisation on Animal Health (WOAH, founded as OIE)
François works at the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). He is scientific coordinator for wildlife and bees at the WOAH Headquarters in the Preparedness and Resilience Department. He works on wildlife and biodiversity, bee health, and the international transport of diagnostic specimens. A French national, Dr François Diaz was awarded a degree of Doctor of Pharmacy and also obtained a Masters degree in International Law and law of International Organizations.
Dr. Jackson Katampi, Zambia National Coordinator, IUCN Green List for Protected and Conserved Areas, Ministry of Tourism and Arts, Department of National Parks and Wildlife
Jackson is an experienced conservationist with a background in wildlife veterinary medicine and conservation administration. He serves as the Zambia National Coordinator for the IUCN Green List for Protected and Conserved Areas and is a member of a technical committee under the Coalition of African Parliamentarians on Human-Animal Health and Environment (CAPAH). Previously, he worked as a senior wildlife veterinary officer for the Department of National Parks and Wildlife under the Zambian Ministry of Tourism. As a wildlife veterinarian, he has worked extensively in disease management, treating a variety of species, including mega-herbivores and carnivores. Jackson played a pivotal role in developing Zambia’s One Health strategy, which focuses on the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. He believes that conservation is crucial to human life and encourages everyone to contribute to saving the planet.
Lisa Farroway, Senior Environmental Specialist and Program Manager, Global Wildlife Program and Wildlife Conservation for Development Integrated Program, World Bank
Lisa is a Senior Environmental Specialist at the World Bank and Program Manager of the Global Wildlife Program and the new GEF-8 Wildlife Conservation for Development Integrated Program – with the two programs combined covering 38 countries. Prior to joining the World Bank, Lisa was a Regional Technical Advisor for Ecosystems and Biodiversity at UNDP. She supported national governments and UNDP Country Offices in Asia and the Pacific to develop and implement biodiversity conservation initiatives, including access to GEF funding. Lisa has worked at the CITES Secretariat on flagship initiatives to combat illegal wildlife trade and with the government in Australia on biodiversity conservation and policy development.
Monica Zavagli, Counter Wildlife Trafficking Specialist, Global Wildlife Program and Wildlife Conservation for Development Integrated Program, World Bank
In her role as counter wildlife trafficking specialist for the Global Wildlife Program (GWP), Monica provides technical support to over 30 GEF funded countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America in their efforts to reduce illegal wildlife trade and demand for illegal wildlife products; she also acts as the World Bank’s focal point for the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) and supports the overall coordination of the GWP knowledge platform. Before joining the WB, Monica worked for TRAFFIC leading the Asia component of the USAID funded Project – Wildlife TRAPS, for which she was instrumental in catalyzing transport and logistics sector engagement to strengthen legitimate supply chains.
Her experience encompasses private sector partnership development, capacity building, design and running of complex multi-stakeholder initiatives, and preparation of technical guidance.
This virtual event is hosted by the Global Wildlife Program, a Global Environment Facility-funded, World Bank-led program to combat illegal wildlife trade and promote wildlife-based economies. Please reach out to gwp-info@worldbank.org if you want to be added or removed from our mailing list.
We are thrilled to announce our second Voices from the Ground session with Indigenous Peoples Rights International (IPRI) and Indigenous representatives from Latin America and the Arctic.
Indigenous Peoples have a key role in the protection of wildlife and ecosystems, and Indigenous knowledge systems have included respectful and reciprocal relationships with the natural world, including wildlife for centuries. These knowledge systems, and the rights of Indigenous Peoples are often overlooked in the international discourse on wildlife trade and the prevention of health risks associated with it.
The Alliance, through Indigenous Peoples Rights International(IPRI), will be organizing a virtual learning session with Indigenous representatives fromLatin America and the Arctic to raise awareness within the Alliance community on Indigenous Peoples’ issues and rights, particularly within the context of wildlife trade, protection, and utilization.
The speakers will offer their insights into local experiences, needs and challenges with wildlife contact, trade, and consumption, as well as highlight the challenges and impacts of wildlife trade to Indigenous Peoples’ livelihood, security, and overall wellbeing.
Together, we will learn from Indigenous representatives why it is important to invest in the guidance of Indigenous communities and their system-based solutions.
Facilitators
Celia Austria is a professorial lecturer and retired associate professor of zoology at University of the Philippines Baguio. She has done extensive work with Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines’ Cordillera Administrative Region studying their traditional knowledge. She is also a staunch supporter of Indigenous Peoples’ struggles to protect their collective rights to lands, territories, and natural resources.
Wilfredo Alangui is a Kankana-ey Igorot and Ilocano with roots from Sabangan, Mountain Province and Tayug, Pangasinan, Philippines. He is a professor of Mathematics at the University of the Philippines in Baguio City (UP Baguio). His education and academic training in mathematics from UP Baguio and the University of Auckland has brought him to a whole field of human ideas and activities that impact math learning, encompassing disciplines like philosophy, anthropology, sociology, history, and ecology. His research interest is on the interplay of mathematics/mathematics education, and culture, Indigenous Peoples’ education and Indigenous Knowledge Systems. Since 2012, he has been involved in Indigenous Peoples’ Education efforts, helping several Cordillera, Mangyan, and Ayta elementary and secondary teachers develop culturally relevant lessons in mathematics and other subjects. He was also involved in the development of an Indigenous Curriculum Framework in support of the Indigenous Peoples’ Education program of the Department of Education (DepEd), and currently, in the Teaching Science for Indigenous Students project of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Philippines and the IPs Education Office (IPsEO) of the Department of Education-Philippines.
Speakers
Vittus Qujaukitsoq is a Greenlandic politician. He was one of the founders of the pro-independence party, Nunatta Qitornai, 2017 prior to the Parliamentary election in April 2018. He was elected to Greenland Parliament on behalf of Nunatta Qitornai and was appointed as Minister of Mineral Resources and Labour in May 2018 in Kim Kielsen government. He then was appointed as Minister of Finance and Nordic Cooperation in October 2018. He has been Minister of Finance since October 2019.
Victor Manuel is a member of the indigenous Kichwa peoples of Ecuador. He has a degree in agricultural engineering and has been working professionally for almost three decades with the Kichwa peoples in the Amazon region. He has written publications on ancestral agroecosystems and food systems of the Kiwcha peoples.
Braulina Baniwa has a degree in social anthropology. She is an advocate for Indigenous Peoples rights and women’s rights. She is an indigenous researcher and former president of the Associação dos Acadêmicos Indígenas of the University of Brazil. She acts as a member of the Articulação Brasileira de Indígenas Antropóloges (Abia) and the Articulação Nacional das Mulheres Indígenas Guerreiras da Ancestralidade (Anmiga).
We are delighted to host this second session with IPRI and are enthusiastic to have a broad exchange within the Alliance community.
Taller de Incidencia en Políticas Públicas para académicos e investigadores con enfoque Una Salud
The Alianza One Health Selva Maya (AOHSM) offers a workshop for academics and researchers: “Taller de Incidencia en Políticas Públicas para académicos e investigadores con enfoque Una Salud – Public Policy Advocacy Workshop for academics and researchers with a One Health focus”
The focus of the workshop is to strengthen knowledge to promote participation and advocacy in public policy processes. For Spanish speakering members only!
There is only a limited number of participants. Please send your letter of interest to administrador@alianzaohselvamaya.info before 07.04.2023.
