Program for the protection of biological diversity in animal husbandry from 2018 to 2024.

This Program for the protection of biological diversity in animal husbandry for the period from the year 2018 until the year 2024 determines and regulates the goals and guidelines for the protection of biological diversity in animal husbandry for the period 2018-2024. The preservation and use of genetic diversity between and within species implies providing more opportunities, in the shortest possible period of time, in order to respond to future challenges. Genetic resources for food and agriculture represent a basis for improving the production and quality of products from livestock, forestry and fisheries and are crucial in maintaining healthy populations of wild and domestic animal species. Therefore, the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources for food and agriculture are at the core of food security.
Contemporary challenges of protection include, among others: - valuation of animal genetic resources; - creation and updating of an appropriate priority of the system of protection of endangered species and - establishment of active global regional and international integration. Native breeds and their conservation are considered a public good. They are not only a source of genetic diversity in animal husbandry, but are also part of the national heritage and identity. Another important reason in the concern for the preservation of biological diversity in animal husbandry is the high degree of connection of indigenous breeds with the way of life of the population, when using the economically important and often unique characteristics of indigenous animals related to adaptation to a certain habitat. The loss of biological diversity in different species of domestic animals and the erosion of genetic resources not only threaten the sustainability of production capacities, but also reduce the potential for sustainable development and survival of the rural population. Through the application of sustainable methodologies aligned with international principles and domestic needs, the continuity in the conservation of biological diversity among domestic animals in the Republic of Macedonia will be ensured. Assessment of the state of conservation of all indigenous breeds/strains of cattle that are bred on the national territory will be constantly performed with special emphasis regarding the objectives listed in this text.