Our international team has implemented a range of sustainability practices and initiatives regarding their approach to travel and within the projects we are a part of worldwide.
Staff travel considerations
When planning any trips we consider the impact of our carbon footprint and ways in which we can minimise it. We have five regional coordinators who live in the regions where our international projects are situated, this helps to reduce the amount of travel our UK-based staff need to undertake. If our team from head office plan an international trip, they try to visit up to 4 projects in the region, minimising the number of flights needed to attend each project and the total distance travelled.
We also embrace technology, utilising online meeting platforms to maintain communication with the regional coordinators and those involved in the projects. We also use an online learning platform for staff training where possible.
Environmental sustainability initiatives from some of our international projects
Working horses around the world are often used in place of fuel powered vehicles, creating a greener energy alternative with notable environmental benefits. Due to the significant role that these horses play in helping to support their owners’ livelihoods as well as promoting environmental sustainability, it is important to ensure that their health and welfare is considered and prioritised. Working in collaboration with our regional teams and partners, our international projects not only help to ensure horse welfare remains an important consideration, but that environmental sustainability is promoted where possible.
Cape Town, South Africa (CHPA)
We support the cart horse owning community in Cape Town to help promote cleaner energy. The carthorse owners on the Cape Flats make a living collecting and selling scrap metal and other materials for recycling. They also undertake garden refuse removal and help with the disposal of other materials. Through these activities, the carthorses contribute to a cleaner environment and promote efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle waste. In this way, they play a positive, cost-effective role in waste management in the city.
Beitbridge, Zimbabwe (VAWZ)
VAWZ is exploring a pilot project to help farmers adapt to climate change and build resilient livelihood strategies. This will include the cultivation of drought-tolerant fodder options and encourage fodder production and processing for donkeys and other livestock that requires less water useage, ensuring there is sufficient nutrition available for working equids during dry/drought periods. This will help to support farmers to develop more resilient rural livelihoods in a drought-prone environment and promote the welfare of working donkeys, especially during the hungry season as well as at other times of the year.
Nepal
In collaboration with Animal Nepal and a range of partners, 4 biogas plants have been installed. These biogas plants will convert organic waste, primarily animal manure, into biogas. This process not only produces clean energy but also helps in managing waste efficiently. The resulting biogas can replace traditional fuels like firewood, reducing deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.
Cuba
Through our partnership with the National Zoo, we are coordinating participation in the environmental education program for children, where we can also cover the importance of animal welfare. The programme was developed for primary schools in vulnerable areas of Havana.
The other indirect impact on environmental management in the area, is in the communities where we are beginning to work with equine owners and service providers where equids fulfil a very important function of rubbish collection.
Haiti
In Haiti, in the Kenscoff region, our project is working with communities where equids are used as an alternative means of transporting people, instead of motorcycles. Surrounding communities that use poorly maintained and old motorcycles have a significant detrimental impact on carbon emissions and noise pollution.
In the project communities we also work with equids that are used for rubbish collection. In this area there is no state service that does this work.
Mexico
Training vets to be farriers is geared to sustainability because it is hard for a farrier to make a good living and hard for a vet too, but with both skills they’ll be more successful and more apt to continue helping the equines.
The project is working on drought resistant forage cultivation, that’s geared to sustainability in a changing climate with more drought likely in future.
The education we’re providing in one of their best/largest veterinary schools to the future veterinarians is part of sustainability.
