The global livestock sector is undergoing dramatic changes. Fuelled by a growing population, rising income and growing urbanisation, demand for livestock products in the developing world is expected to double over the next two decades. Increased production in any enterprise is likely to have negative consequences for the environment, unless steps are taken to ensure that the natural resource base (land, vegetation, water, air and biodiversity) can be sustained while still increasing food production. 

Present systems of livestock production have both positive (e.g. enhancing soil fertility through application of manure) and negative (e.g. pollution of water courses through improper disposal of effluent from processing plants) consequences for the environment, at local, regional and international levels. This toolbox has been designed to help those less familiar with these interactions to identify which ones should be enhanced (positive) or mitigated (negative) and how to achieve those goals.

Please note that this Toolbox has been developed using a systems classification appropriate to specific environmental impacts. All users are advised to read the general principles of the Livestock Production Systems Classification before proceeding.

The Toolbox manual describes how to use the toolbox and includes a structural diagram of the toolbox components, which can also be accessed from any page, using the green "Toolbox Outline" link on the left hand margin. Key references (texts describing the background and specific issues in more detail), definitions (of specialist terminology) and abbreviations can also be accessed from relevant pages.

The  Toolbox is part of a global initiative on Livestock, Environment and Development (LEAD) sponsored by a group of multi-lateral and bi-lateral donor agencies. The toolbox was developed in 1999 by an international consortium led by Natural Resources International Ltd., involving experts from the Natural Resources Institute (NRI, UK), the International Agricultural Centre (IAC, the Netherlands) and Centre de cooperation internationale en recherche agronomique pour le developpement (CIRAD, France) and was funded by the European Commission through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, (FAO).
 

Concept and Design by  [The Natural Resources Institute]

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