Archives: Events

Special Issue: Tackling Mpox – Epidemiology, Regional Insights, and Strategies for Containment

Dear Colleagues and Alliance members,

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared the mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a growing number of African countries a public health emergency of international concern. This declaration is due to the rapid spread of a virulent strain of mpox, Clade Ib. The development underscores the urgency of addressing emerging zoonotic pathogens, such as mpox and their broader implications for global health security.

To delve into these pressing issues, we are thrilled to invite you to a special issue webinar featuring leading experts in the field of mpox research and response. Featured speakers will be:

  • Prof. Dr. Fabian Leendertz, a veterinarian and Professor for One Health, who will present the repeated emergence of monkeypox virus in a wild, human-habituated western chimpanzee population from Taï National Park, Ivory Coast and discuss bushmeat as a potential source for human infections.
  • Dr. Kizito Kakule, a veterinarian from the DRC and Executive Director of the national NGO “COPHEGs”, will share on-the-ground insights into the current mpox situation, highlighting the challenges and opportunities for local and international collaboration.
  • Dr. Adeyinka Adedeji, a veterinarian from Nigeria and head of the Pox Research Laboratory at NVRI, will provide valuable insights into mpox management within the country, focusing on its connections to bushmeat and the role of wildlife reservoirs in the disease’s ecology and transmission dynamics.

Join us for this in-depth discussion to better understand the evolving mpox landscape and explore strategies for effective control and prevention.

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Prof. Dr. Fabian Leendertz: Monkeypox virus infections in wild non-human primates

Despite the growing importance of monkeypox virus and frequent spillover events to humans, our knowledge on its host spectrum and sylvatic maintenance is limited. In this talk, I will present repeated emergence of monkeypox virus in a wild, human-habituated western chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) population from Taï National Park, Ivory Coast. I will present the clinical manifestation as well as detection in non-invasive samples (feces, flies) and discuss sources of infection which may also be relevant in respect to spillovers to humans and links to bushmeat as a potential source for human infections. In this talk I will elaborate on the value of long-term studies to understand the ecology and emergence of zoonotic agents such as monkeypox viruses.

Dr. Kizito Kakule: The evolution of the MPOX outbreak and its contributing factors for spreading in the DRC, the case of North and South Kivu

Mpox is one of the diseases observed since 1958 in the world (on wild animals) but the first case was recorded in humans in the DRC  (1970), which gives it the connotation of a “Congolese disease”!

The DRC has experienced many epidemics, almost all of them have their origin on animals (zoonotic) but which, unfortunately, due to the weak application of prevention and control measures, cause enormous loss of human life. In addition, there are other factors favoring and explaining the spread of the outbreak and which pose difficulties for containing the disease, and among these factors we can mention:

  • Insecurity (war) causing unstructured movements of populations and living in precarious conditions,
  • Low availability of basic infrastructure (roads, water, electricity),
  • Low availability of social services (hospitals equipped with laboratories),
  • Eating habits (easy handling of wild species animals and consumption of bushmeat),
  • Poverty
  • Low government involvement (Political willing),
  • Weak communication between departments for the implementation of the One-Health approach.

Despite the Congolese government’s declaration of a health emergency due to the Mpox epidemic in the DRC (24 out of 26 provinces) and despite the support of technical and financial partners for the response, the outbreak seems not to be under control and continues to record many new cases and deaths.

According to available statistics, the DRC alone is full of 93% of all recorded cases in the world and including deaths; which shows that efforts must be redoubled, require the involvement of the various stakeholders taking into account the One-Health approach to succeed in controlling and containing this outbreak.

Dr. Adeyinka Adedeji: Animal reservoir status of monkeypox virus and the possible role of bushmeat trade in its spread in Nigeria

Zoonoses such as Mpox are endemic in Nigeria, and the causative agent is the monkeypox virus (MPXV), a member of the genus Orthopoxvirus (OPXV), but putative reservoirs associated with spillover events from animals to humans remain a mystery. Nigeria is a known hub of illegal bushmeat or wildlife trade in Africa and they are widely harvested for food or traditional medicine. A One Health Animal Surveillance Team (AST) has been conducting ecological surveillance since 2018 to provide answers to questions regarding MPXV animal reservoir (s) in country. The surveillance activities involve sampling suspected reservoirs such as rodents and small mammals in communities with confirmed human mpox cases, forested habitats, and peri-urban/urban interfaces, as well as sampling wildlife at bush meat markets. Data based on surveillance activities revealed the presence of antibodies against the generic OPXV in rodents, shrews, and feral cats. At the same time, an investigation of the activities of bushmeat actors revealed two categories of bushmeat markets: wet or fresh bushmeat markets and traditional medicine wildlife body parts markets. Additionally, the bushmeat actors include hunters, traders, zootherapists, processors, and consumers. Although the actors have heard about Mpox, most of them do not know the means of transmission or the symptoms of the disease. Likewise, most actors are unwilling to stop handling or eating bushmeat even if they know it is a means of transmission of pathogens such as MPXV. High-risk practices that were observed and identified as possible drivers of spillover events in the bushmeat trade include i). location of bushmeat sale points in high human-density areas; ii). direct human and wildlife contact such as handling and butchering of wildlife with bare hands and non-usage of personal protective apparatus; and iii) practices such as ingestion, smoking of wildlife body parts, and topical applications compounded into traditional medicines. iii). Identification of wildlife such as rodents and primates that are suspected carriers/reservoirs of MPXV in the bushmeat markets. Lastly, there was a clustering of bushmeat markets locations with confirmed human Mpox cases on the Nigerian map.

About the Speakers

Prof. Dr. Fabian Leendertz

Fabian Leendertz studied veterinary medicine at the University of Budapest and the Freie Universität (FU) Berlin. In 2005, he became a doctor of veterinary medicine and head of the ‘Primate Diseases’ working group at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig. Subsequently, he headed the Emerging Zoonoses junior research group at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in Berlin until 2012 and qualified as a veterinary specialist in microbiology. As head of the RKI project group ‘Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Pathogens’ (2012 – 2021), he habilitated in microbiology at the FU Berlin in 2016. In 2021, Fabian Leendertz was appointed founding director of the Helmholtz Institute for One Health (HIOH) in Greifswald and professor for One Health at the University of Greifswald.

Fabian Leendertz’s most important achievements include the discovery of a new type of anthrax pathogen (Bacillus cereus bv anthracis) and the first description of leprosy in wild great apes. He led the investigation into the origin of the West African Ebola outbreak in 2014 and is a member of the WHO expert group investigating the origin of SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, Prof Leendertz heads one of the three branch offices of the German national One Health Platform and is a member of various advisory boards. These include the advisory committee of the One Health Initiative of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the scientific commission of the Great Apes Survival Partnership of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the expert pool on pandemic preparedness of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). In addition, Fabian Leendertz is a corresponding member of the French Académie Nationale de Médicine.

In recognition of his commitment to implementing the One Health concept, Fabian Leendertz was awarded UNEP’s Champion of the Earth Award in 2020. In 2023, he was honored by the Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Hamburg with the Hamburg Science Prize for his groundbreaking achievements in the field of zoonotic infectious diseases using the One Health concept.

Kizito Kakule

Kizito Kakule is a Veterinary experienced in wildlife health monitoring in DRC national Parks (Kahuzi-Biega, Virunga, Maiko and in Zoos (including sanctuaries). With a Master’s degree in Wildlife Health Management as well as a Master’s degree in CITES and certified in Field Epidemiology (FLTP trained by AFENET/CDC Atlanta), he is an expert in the implementation of the One Health approach.

Kizito is Executive Director of the national NGO “COPHEGs” (Conservation and Public Health for Generations), heavily involved in diseases survey (detection, prevention and control of emerging diseases in general and zoonotic diseases specifically,

Kizito is currently involved in the MPOx response in Eastern part of the DRC, and more specifically in the province of North and South-Kivu, trying to assess the evolution of the outbreak in this area, with all the factors favoring his spread.

Dr Kizito has worked for over 10 years in conservation, implementing the Epidemiosurveillance program within ICCN in collaboration with the Fisheries and Livestock, Health and Environment departments, in the surveillance and prevention of zoonoses that can affect wildlife, humans and livestock in communities.

Dr. Adeyinka Jeremy Adedeji

Adeyinka Jeremy Adedeji is a veterinarian and researcher with the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) in Vom, Nigeria. He is also the head of the Pox Research Laboratory at NVRI. He has diverse experience on pox viruses of economic and zoonotic importance in Nigeria. In addition, since 2018, he has worked on collaborative projects to understand the animal reservoir of the monkeypox virus in Nigeria. Dr. Adeyinka Adedeji’s research interests are transboundary animal diseases and zoonotic pathogens, and wildlife trade.

Special Issue: Get Smart! Innovation in Surveillance and Disease Detection

Dear Colleagues and Alliance members,
Monitoring wildlife health is a complex and ongoing challenge for veterinarians, wildlife biologists, rangers, epidemiologists and other experts. But what if technology could revolutionize wildlife surveillance? With data-driven methods, we can enhance our ability to collect vital information, enabling earlier detection and timely warnings, especially for emerging zoonotic diseases. Which new tools can reshape how we monitor and protect wildlife health?

To explore these questions, we are delighted to invite you to the upcoming special issue webinar featuring Prof. Dr. Martin Wikelski, who will discuss ‘The Internet of Animals – Early detection of zoonotic diseases’, and Dr. Diego Montecino, presenting ‘Leveraging technologies to expand and improve wildlife health surveillance: SMART for Health and the WildHealthDB’.

Both presentations highlight specific technological advancements for wildlife health monitoring and zoonotic disease detection, particularly using open-source tools. These approaches offer valuable resources for experts to improve data management and deepen their understanding of wildlife health dynamics.


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The Internet of Animals – Early detection of zoonotic diseases

The collective wisdom of the Earth´s animals provides an immense bio-treasure of unprecedented information for humankind. Learning from animals in the ´Internet of Animals´ can help us predict natural catastrophes, forecast global zoonotic disease spreads or safeguard food resources while monitoring in situ every corner of the planet. The evolved senses of animals as well as technical sensors on animal-borne tracking tags enables local earth observations at highest spatial and temporal resolution. To protect and understand the ecosystem services provided by animals, we need to monitor individual animals seamlessly on a global scale. At the same time, these unprecedented life-history data of individual wild animals provide deep, novel insight into fundamental biological processes.

The ICARUS initiative, an international bottom-up, science-driven technology development of small, cheap and autonomous IoT (Internet of Things) sensing devices for animal movement and behavior is aiming towards this: wearables for wildlife. The resulting big data available in the open-source data base Movebank help understand, monitor, predict and protect life on our planet.

Title: Leveraging technologies to expand and improve wildlife health surveillance: SMART for Health and the WildHealthDB

Wildlife diseases are significant threats to global health and biodiversity. Diseases such as avian influenza, white-nose syndrome, injuries from snares, and pollutants are increasingly recognized as urgent conservation issues. These health threats add to the many challenges wildlife face, including habitat destruction, illegal trade, invasive species, and climate change.

Wildlife health surveillance is a dynamic process that monitors diseases, pathogens, and toxins in wildlife. It aims to detect, quantify, and respond to health threats. However, this surveillance is often poorly implemented or entirely absent, even in key sites for conservation and interspecies transmission of pathogens. Data challenges in wildlife health surveillance include inadequate management of information and the lack of standards guiding best practices and to structure diverse data types coming from wildlife health surveillance.

To improve this situation, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has partnered with national agencies and local NGOs of five countries to start wildlife health monitoring in protected areas. This expansion relies on the essential role of rangers, who patrol these areas and contribute to data collection. The integration has been facilitated by SMART—a suite of open-source tools designed to support protected area management. Already deployed in over 1,200 protected areas across 100 countries, SMART allows rangers to use mobile devices to digitally record their observations during patrols and wirelessly transfer this data to central offices. This technology-driven approach enables efficient recruitment of field surveyors and the standardized collection of wildlife health data. The integration of rangers into wildlife health monitoring through “SMART for Health” will be discussed alongside an overview of the project’s current results.

Additionally, the Wildlife Health Intelligence Network is developing a comprehensive data model to manage wildlife health surveillance data for national level programs and research projects. This model is designed to handle diverse types of epidemiological information related to the environment, host species, and health hazards. The model is currently being tested in WildHealthDB, a web-based database developed by WCS’s Health Program. This application is expected to promote best practices in wildlife health surveillance data management and support interoperability with human and domestic animal health databases. The data model, database structure, and future plans will also be presented.

About the Speaker

Martin Wikelski

Martin Wikelski is the Director of the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior (formerly Ornithology) in Radolfzell (Germany), Professor in Biology at the University of Konstanz and member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. Previously, he held positions at the University of Washington, Seattle, WA; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama; University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Princeton University. His specialization is the study of global animal movement.

Dr Diego Montecino-Latorre

Dr. Diego Montecino-Latorre holds a Master’s in Preventive Veterinary Medicine and a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of California, Davis. With over a decade of experience in wildlife health across terrestrial and marine ecosystems worldwide, Dr. Montecino-Latorre has conducted extensive research and contributed significantly to the development of wildlife health surveillance systems. His work involves close collaboration with field rangers, data managers, analysts, and health leaders within national and international organizations.

Currently, Dr. Montecino-Latorre serves as the Data Specialist and Health Researcher for the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Health Program, where he focuses on enhancing wildlife health surveillance in protected areas by integrating rangers in wildlife health monitoring, improving wildlife health data management practices within and beyond WCS, and leveraging open-source data for wildlife health monitoring.

Dr. Montecino-Latorre also leads the Wildlife Health Intelligence Network (WHIN) Data Taskforce, which is currently dedicated to developing a data model that promotes best practices and standardizes the management of wildlife health information generated through diverse initiatives and methodologies.

Expert Talk: Bridging the Gap to Prevent the Next Pandemic: Exploring the Connections Between Large-Scale Development, Ecological Fragilization, Biodiversity Loss, and Zoonotic Disease Emergence’ with Dr. Johannes Refisch

Dear Colleagues and Alliance members,


As the world still has to deal with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, one critical question comes to everyone’s mind: How can we effectively prevent the next potential pandemic? The urgency to answer this question has never been greater and one important approach that could potentially prevent zoonotic spillovers is still underrepresented in science and policy.


We are delighted to invite you to the:


‘Bridging the Gap to Prevent the Next Pandemic: Exploring the Connections Between Large-Scale Development, Ecological Fragilization, Biodiversity Loss, and Zoonotic Disease Emergence’ by Dr. Johannes Refisch.
Protecting balanced ecosystems is essential for mitigating the global health risks posed by emerging infectious diseases. Rapid changes to ecosystems, including those driven by large-scale development, often result in instability and fragilization, which are recognized as significant contributors to zoonotic disease risks. While increased human-wildlife contact is frequently highlighted, habitat degradation through anthropogenic disturbances that undermine ecosystem resilience and reduce biodiversity has been independently linked to increased zoonotic disease risks.
By examining case studies, the session will highlight how disruptions to ecosystems and reductions in biodiversity can elevate zoonotic disease risks. The discussion will offer actionable recommendations for integrating the biodiversity-health nexus into development planning, emphasizing the importance of monitoring both human and wildlife health as essential components of sustainable development strategies designed to prevent future pandemics.


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About the Speaker: Dr. Johannes Refisch


Johannes leads the secretariat for the Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP), a unique alliance of member nations, research institutions, conservation organizations, United Nations agencies and private supporters that is based at UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) headquarters in Nairobi.
Johannes has a Diploma degree in animal ecology and has held scientific positions in Germany, Switzerland and the United States. He was co-director of the Tai Monkey Project in Cote d’Ivoire, and the results of his PhD work in 2001 resulted in a Research Conservation Award from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques.
Johannes relocated to East Africa in 2005, and worked as a programme manager for the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP), then joined GRASP in 2006. He is a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Primate Specialist Group and the IUCN Transboundary Conservation Specialist Group. He has a wide experience in natural resource management (NRM) and assisted GTZ (German Techncial Cooperation), IGCP, WWF and UNEP in designing, supervising and implementing NRM projects.

IUCN-WOAH wildlife health webinar: Launch of the General guidelines for surveillance of diseases, pathogens and toxic agents in free-ranging wildlife 

In English with French and Spanish interpretation 

Following on from the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the two organizations are running a joint 1-hour webinar on wildlife health.  

The event will launch General guidelines for surveillance of diseases, pathogens and toxic agents in free-ranging wildlife, which aim to assist with the development and implementation of a national surveillance programme. The primary target audience for the guidelines are wildlife management and wildlife health authorities, including WOAH National Focal Points for Wildlife, as well as other groups responsible for managing wildlife in protected and conserved areas, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, private landowners, and park and reserve managers. 

The event will also provide an overview of the broader work undertaken by IUCN and WOAH to support the incorporation of wildlife and ecosystem health into the One Health agenda. 

Register here:

https://engage.iucn.org/event/general-guidelines-surveillance-diseases-pathogens-and-toxic-agents-free-ranging-wildlife

Speakers: 

William B. Karesh – Co-Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Wildlife Health Specialist Group, Chair of the WOAH Working Group on Wildlife, and Executive Vice President for Health and Policy EcoHealth Alliance 

Tiggy Grillo – Co-Chair of the IUCN SSC Wildlife Health Specialist Group, Chief Operating Officer and National Coordinator at Wildlife Health Australia (WHA) 

Kevin Smith – Senior Programme Coordinator Lead Invasive Alien Species and Wildlife Health IUCN 

Francois Diaz – Scientific Coordinator for Wildlife and Bees WOAH 

Catherine Machalaba – IUCN SSC Wildlife Health Specialist Group, Principal Scientist for Health and Policy EcoHealth Alliance 

Voices from the Ground: Learning from the implementation of the KAP Wildlife project in Latin America

We are delighted to invite you to another Alliance Voices from the Ground Event. The project ‘Knowledge, Attitude and Practice’ (KAP) wildlife aims to identify knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards the risk of zoonotic diseases, wildlife trade, and consumption in different populations living in urban and rural areas, including indigenous communities, of Latin America. Mixed methods were implemented in lowland areas of Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and Guatemala: A quantitative baseline information, in-deep interviews with key stakeholders and focus group discussions and round-tables. Based on its results, we have developed innovative approaches, according to local context, to educate communities, and co-construct behavioral change approaches to raise awareness and change behavior in the population. The event will provide a platform to share key findings and experiences from our project and fieldwork: a project overview, presenting design methodologies, main results, and upcoming steps. Be part of a dialogue that highlights the importance of community-based strategies and participatory approaches in addressing wildlife conservation and health.

Maria Teresa Solis Soto, Carlos Roberto Vásquez Almazán, Pilar Mansilla, Marcia Adler, and Denise Siqueira de Carvalho

Wednesday, June 26, 4pm-5:30pm CEST

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Objective

Facilitate a space for the exchange of experiences, challenges and facilitators identified for the implementation of the KAP Wildlife project in different cultural contexts of Latin America in Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Guatemala.

Target group

Partners of the International Alliance against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade, researchers, members of non-governmental organizations working on issues of wildlife conservation and prevention of zoonoses in different countries (Asia, Africa, Europe, LA)

About the Speakers

María Teresa Solís Soto is a medical doctor at Universidad Mayor Real y Pontificia de San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca, Bolivia, with training in public health, epidemiology, and international health. She has worked on different public health issues, focusing on the epidemiology of chronic diseases, health, and work conditions in urban and rural areas of Latin America and recently in projects with the One Health approach. Their projects implemented quantitative and qualitative approaches and, in a particular way, community-based interventions. Dr. Solis-Soto is working actively in international collaborative initiatives, leading research and training projects.

Carlos Roberto Vásquez Almazán holds a degree in Biology from the University of San Carlos in Guatemala and a PhD in Biological Sciences from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, UNAM.   He has studied, monitored and described new species of amphibians and reptiles in Guatemala.   He is currently Professor of Zoology and Researcher and Curator of the National Amphibian and Reptile Collection at the Natural History Museum and School of Biology.

Pilar Mansilla is a Sociologist and Master in Social Sciences with extensive experience using quantitative and qualitative research methods, community development, productive and educational training. She has been part of multidisciplinary teams, observing the social reality, elaborating diagnoses, and designing and implementing national pilot programs, and quality management systems. She participated in the creation of the Universidad de O’Higgins in Rancagua, Chile.

Marcia Adler is a biologist, trained in Germany, with extensive experience in the research of native stingless bees, having worked in the areas of biodiversity, ecology, and the evaluation of the impacts of fires in their populations. Additionally, she has participated in various development programs through meliponiculture in rural communities. Currently, she is a researcher at the Unit of Science and Technology at the Universidad Mayor Real y Pontificia de San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca, Bolivia.

Denise Siqueira de Carvalho, professor at the Department of Community Health at the Federal University of Paraná in Brazil, is currently on the permanent teaching staff of the Postgraduate Program in Public Health and a collaborator at the Center for International Health at Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich. Her experience in the area of Medicine is related to One Health, with an emphasis on diagnostics, epidemiological surveillance of communicable diseases, information systems and evaluation of health services.

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 event. Please feel free to forward and share this invitation with interested colleagues.

Expert Talk: What on Earth is a Policy Impact Statement? A Guide to Appropriate Policy Communication in Wildlife and Conservation Research

There is a growing call for ‘evidence-based policy’ by those who operate at the science-policy interface. In conservation, this call is not only made by the public and policymakers but also by scientists who often consider they have a responsibility to engage with the policy need for environmental solutions. However, how policymakers engage with evidence and how scientists articulate ‘policy impact’ creates a dissonance – the effective exchange of information between the two groups is infrequent. Policymakers rarely obtain ‘evidence’ directly from journal articles. In response, several journals in conservation science have requested, or even required, policy impact statements as an attempt to highlight relevance to policymakers and make primary ‘evidence’ more readily identified.

In this presentation, I will show that policy statements rarely provide enough clear information to policymakers and that journal ‘policy impact’ requirements are often simply ‘window dressing’. I provide an overview of the policymaking process and explain why that knowledge is relevant to those communicating wildlife and conservation research. I make recommendations for authors, as to how policy communication can be improved, so that policymakers can more easily identify relevant evidence for consideration in policymaking.

Expert Talk with Dr. Katie Woolaston

Wednesday, May 29th, 9:00 – 10:15 CEST

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About the speaker

Dr Katie Woolaston is an interdisciplinary researcher, lawyer and Senior Lecturer in the School of Law at QUT.  She holds a Masters in Law (specialising in Human Rights & Social Justice) from the University of New South Wales, and a PhD in Environmental Law from Griffith University.

Dr Woolaston’s research is focused on international and domestic wildlife law and the regulation of the human-wildlife relationship. She is particularly interested in using the social sciences to resolve long-held and deeply-rooted attitudes and values that are contrary to conservation and embedding such processes in law and policy. Dr Woolaston’s current research is focused on human-wildlife conflicts, and the integration of One Health approaches in wildlife and environmental policy in the wake of COVID-19. She was an expert on the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) panel concerning Biodiversity and Pandemics, and is on the Technical Advisory Group of the United Nations Environment Program’s ‘Nature4Health’ Initiative. Her first book, titled ‘Ecological Vulnerability: The Law and Governance of Human-Wildlife Relationships’ was published by Cambridge University Press in 2022.

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 delighted to host this event and are enthusiastic to have a broad exchange within the Alliance community. Please feel free to forward and share this invitation with interested colleagues.

Voices from the Ground: Informing policy and technical recommendations to ensure biosecurity at facilities farming wild animals in Viet Nam

GIZ’s global project supporting the International Alliance against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade comprises work with government partners in Viet Nam under the umbrella of “Reducing Health Risks in the Wild Animal Trade in Viet Nam”. The results of this two-year cooperation include inputs to numerous policy and technical recommendations to strengthen Viet Nam’s efforts to ensure biosecurity in the many facilities that are farming wild animals. Under the One Health approach, the project in Viet Nam applied a threefold approach to strengthen the management of commercial wildlife farming activities towards reducing risks, prevent zoonotic transmission and spillover from wild animals to humans. This includes (1) applied research, (2) policy review and (3) multi-stakeholder policy advocacy. Insights from applied research informed the policy review and vice versa. Results of both were widely shared through various inter-sectoral multi-stakeholder platforms. The recommendations resulting from the multi-stakeholder consultations put a particular focus on acting up to new responsibilities that require the cooperation of relevant government departments, local stakeholders, farmers and international partners. The approach and its results will be presented and the discussed during the webinar 8 May 2024. The webinar also provides an opportunity to exchange on how the results can continue to be used by the partners in Viet Nam and elsewhere to underpin upcoming work and to foster chosen approaches.

Anja Barth and Nhung Nguyen

Wednesday, May 8th, 10:00 – 11:15 CEST

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About the Speakers

Anja Barth

Anja Barth is a chief technical advisor with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. She currently manages several projects on forestry and biodiversity conservation in Viet Nam. Her portfolio also includes the Viet Nam country package on “Reducing Health Risks in the Wild Animal Trade in Viet Nam”. Jointly with the key partners of the Pandemic Prevention Task Force in Viet Nam, GIZ has used the opportunities provided by applied research, policy review and multi-stakeholder policy advocacy to enhance dialogue and action on reducing zoonotic risks in wildlife farming in Viet Nam. GIZ’s close collaboration with Vietnamese government partners and the long-standing experiences in using a multi-level approach for enhancing policies and actively engaging in stakeholder coordination was instrumental in achieving the project’s objectives.

Nhung Nguyen

Nhung Nguyenhas been working on the wildlife conservation and trade in Viet Nam for the past 10 years in the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Agency under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment as a project manager/coordinator. She has extensive knowledge and experiences working with policy makers and wildlife practitioners, contributing to the amendment of key legal documents on wildlife conservation and management. She started working the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH since March 2023 as a Project Officer in Biodiversity and Forest Unit. Joining the Viet Nam Country Package – Reducing Health Risks in the Wild Animal Trade in Viet Nam, she brought her knowledge and experiences in wildlife conservation and management policy and practice to addressing health risks posed from wildlife farming via the One Health approach.

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 delighted to host this event and are enthusiastic to have a broad exchange within the Alliance community. Please feel free to forward and share this invitation with interested colleagues.

Expert Talk: Faith, Wildlife, and Biodiversity: Harnessing Religion for Environmental Conservation and Ethical Action

In this session, we will delve into the intersection of faith, wildlife, and biodiversity, exploring how religious beliefs can influence human behavior towards the conservation of our planet’s precious ecosystems and wildlife. From understanding the intrinsic value of animals in religious teachings to discussing the role of faith-based organizations in shaping global biodiversity frameworks, this webinar will offer insights into the powerful potential of religion to promote environmental stewardship and ethical action. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore how faith-based perspectives can inform and influence policymaking for a more sustainable future

Expert Talk with Dr. Iyad Abumoghli

Tuesday, April 16th, 15:00 – 16:15 CEST

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About the Speaker

Dr. Iyad Abumoghli, Founder and Director of the Faith for Earth Initiative, has more than 38 years of experience with international organizations, the private sector, and scientific institutions. Dr. Abumoghli’s expertise focus on strategic planning, sustainable development, interfaith collaboration and knowledge and innovation. Dr. Abumoghli is currently the Lead Principal Advisor on Engaging with Faith-Based Organizations at UNEP. Previously Dr. Abumoghli held several leading positions including the Regional Representative of UNEP in West Asia, Director of Knowledge and Innovation at UNDP’s Office for the Arab States, Senior Environment Advisor at UNDP’s Regional Office in Beirut, Global Practice Manager for the Energy and Environment Group in New York, Assistant Resident Representative of UNDP in Jordan.

Dr. Abumoghli holds a doctorate degree in Bio-Chemical Engineering from the University of Bath/UK, and an outstanding graduate of the Virtual Development Academy – Johns University.

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 delighted to host this event and are enthusiastic to have a broad exchange within the Alliance community. Please feel free to forward and share this invitation with interested colleagues.

Bridging People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovations in Wildlife Conservation

Allianz member WOAH invites you to a webinar on the occasion of the World Wildlife Day:

‘To mark World Wildlife Day 2024, WOAH is hosting an interactive webinar on the theme, “Bridging People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovations in Wildlife Conservation.” During this engaging one-hour session, we will explore the power of digital innovation in wildlife conservation. 

Touching on wildlife health information systems to cutting-edge data analytics, panellists from leading wildlife health surveillance projects will share insights on how technology is transforming wildlife disease surveillance and conservation efforts worldwide. 

The webinar takes place on 4 March at 1PM (Paris time). Join us!

Register here

Key discussion points:
  • The role of digital tools in wildlife disease surveillance and conservation
  • Success stories of digital innovations in action
  • Challenges and opportunities in implementation
  • Innovative data initiatives for better wildlife disease surveillance and conservation strategies’

Interactive Workshop – Identify behavioural change strategies to mitigate zoonotic risk at human-wildlife interfaces related to wildlife trade by EcoHealth Alliance and TRAFFIC

People in either conservation or zoonotic disease areas have been talking about integrating behavioural and social science in the research and implementation, but it has not been very well operationalised in terms of incorporating the methodology, learning experience from relevant implementors, or actual piloting. With an interdisciplinary group of members and a focus on both health risks and wildlife trade, the Alliance provides a platform to exchange knowledge and discuss the ways to put this into action in the connected areas.

We are delighted to invite you to a very special event format. Together with Hongying Li and Nghiem Trang from EcoHealth Alliance and James Compton from TRAFFIC we will offer you an interactive workshop for even more in-depth dialogue and joint brainstorming to develop approaches to integrate social and behavioural science into zoonotic risk mitigation.

What can you expect?

  • An update of the funded project work in Southeast Asia regarding risk mitigation in wildlife farming and bat guano collection practices.
  • Live Q&A and survey with the audience.
  • Brainstorm among Alliance members to identify a) specific human-wildlife interfaces and b) potential behavior change strategies for health risk mitigation.
  • Identify feasible and prioritised behavioural change strategies that can be piloted.

Which questions will we discuss?

  • What are the most concerning (in terms of health risk) human-wildlife interfaces in the country/ region/community you work with?
  • Can behaviour change within the population help mitigate the risk?
  • What behavioural change ideas do you have in mind?
  • Is the strategy universally scalable or community/population-specific?

Thursday, March 21st, 13:00-15:00 CEST

Click here to join

About the speakers

Hongying Li is a senior program manager and senior research scientist at EcoHealth Alliance. She has an interdisciplinary background in conservation, public health, and social science, with >10 years of experience working with communities, academic, and governmental partners in Southeast Asia and China for emerging zoonotic disease research and zoonotic risk reduction. Hongying manages research projects to identify zoonotic risks for early warning strategies and leads programs to develop human behavioral and policy approaches to mitigate zoonotic spillover risks at high-risk human-wildlife interfaces. Her work helps foster collaborations and establish networks for emerging infectious disease research, preparedness, and response across multiple sectors and disciplines. Hongying obtained a bachelor’s degree in Biosciences, a master’s degree in Public Health and a Ph.D. in Science, Social care, and Education.

Nghiem Trang is a health policy specialist in Viet Nam. She obtained a master’s degree of Science in Health Economics and Health Care Management and has worked within the health sector in Viet Nam for more than 17 years. Trang has extensive knowledge and experience working with local policymakers, hospital managers, and communities through various infectious disease research projects in Viet Nam. From 2021-2022, as a policy engagement researcher at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU), Ha Noi, Viet Nam, Trang led a qualitative study to understand the policies around zoonotic disease management related to wild animal farming and trade in Viet Nam. Her work has been driven by a strong interest in promoting preventative and protective practices to enhance public health.

James Compton has been working on the trade of wild animals and plants in the Asia-Pacific region for the past 25 years, including 10 years as the Asia Pacific Director for TRAFFIC, a specialist wildlife trade NGO. He currently leads the USAID Wildlife TRAPS, a global project implemented by TRAFFIC and IUCN, which is exploring practical interventions to reduce zoonotic disease spillover risks associated with the trade in wild animals, including through social and behavioural change approaches. James is based in Viet Nam, which together with China, Cameroon and Tanzania are priority geographic locations for the Wildlife TRAPS project. In Tanzania, TRAFFIC has also been supported by German government funding under the International Alliance Against Health Risks in Wildlife Trade and the GIZ Global Programme on Pandemic Prevention and Response, One Health.