Assessing Attitudes towards Biodiversity Conservation among Citizens on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon

Abstract

The unsustainable harvest of wild animals (bushmeat) from the forests of Africa is rapidly endangering populations of many larger mammalian species. Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, represents an extreme situation, with bushmeat priced higher than elsewhere, and the remaining mammalian species, especially the seven monkey species on the island, increasingly endangered. In this dissertation I have examined the demand side of the bushmeat trade on Bioko Island, ascertaining details of bushmeat preference in the general population and beginning to measure the efficacy of several standard conservation outreach strategies in mitigating the demand. I conducted two anonymous structured questionnaire surveys on Bioko Island and one similar questionnaire survey in the forested areas of Cameroon by recruiting participants from public places in cities and villages: An initial trial survey (Survey I; N=322) was conducted in 2013 on Bioko Island with mostly urban participants; a revised survey (Survey II; N=393) was conducted in 2014 on Bioko Island with mostly rural participants; and, an additional modified survey (N=213) was conducted in 2015 in Cameroon. All surveys included a reasonably representative cross section of the general population with adequate distribution of respondents of different gender, age, location (urban or rural), occupation, socio-economic status, educational level and ethnic group. Bushmeat was the overwhelming first choice meal of respondents on Bioko Island (57% in Survey Version I; 69% in Survey Version II), but in Cameroon fish was the first choice (26%), followed by bushmeat (24%). There were no differences in bushmeat preference rates between the two major ethnic groups (Fang or Bubi) on Bioko Island; Fang respondents living in Cameroon had a lower bushmeat preference rate, similar to other ethnic groups living in Cameroon, rather than the high rate typical of Bioko Island. I did find that the preference for particular bushmeat species was different for different ethnic groups, and the Fang preference for primates on Bioko Island was especially noteworthy given the endangered status of many of Bioko's monkeys. The surveys included questions about laws protecting wildlife, about awareness of local outreach programs meant to sensitize the public to the plight of endangered wildlife, and questions about the influence of these programs on public support for wildlife conservation. In all surveys, respondents were generally aware of either the laws or the outreach programs and were supportive of wildlife conservation, especially the enforcement of laws protecting wildlife. As a result, the following recommendations for action by the government of Equatorial Guinea were made: (*) Enforce existing laws and treaties that protect biodiversity by 1) establishing teams of well-trained and well-paid forest guards in the protected areas, and 2) penalizing (fines for vendors) the illegal sale of protected species as bushmeat in the market. (*) Support the development of Equatorial Guinea's protected areas and…