Abstract
Traditional wildlife hunting has been described mainly from studies of local practices and from the monitoring of urban bushmeat markets. However, the overall value chain connecting hunters to end consumers remains largely unknown, thus preventing any estimate of the actual socio-economic importance of the bushmeat sector. On the basis of existing literature, this paper provides an order of magnitude for the financial and economic benefits of the bushmeat commodity chain in Cameroon. The following conservative conclusions were arrived at:The annual turnover of the bushmeat sector in the country is likely to be close to €97 million, i.e. 36% more than the official assessment derived from public accounts.The bushmeat sector may contribute 0.17% to Cameroon’s GDP (non-oil), as much as the mining sector.Self-consumption of bushmeat in rural areas may amount to gross annual economic benefit of more than €142 million. However, bushmeat in a country like Cameroon needs to be managed so as to guarantee the food security of urban and rural populations, as well as maintain a substantial source of revenue for communities, all of this without depleting the resource. Achieving this goal requires policy makers to disassociate wildlife harvesting from ‘poaching’ and the extirpation of species. It is crucial to go beyond the dominant narrative of a (real but over simplified) notion of a conservation crisis, to address its important livelihood and welfare dimensions.
Highlights
Poaching of the large, emblematic African mammals is currently the subject of much attention and of numerous publications (Brashares et al 2014, Maisels et al 2013)
With growing human populations (Fa et al 2005), improved hunting equipment (Feer 1996, MacDonald et al 2012), expanding road networks (Laurance et al 2006), lack of alternatives for accessing protein in rural areas and competitive pricing of bushmeat (Fargeot 2006), Central Africa faces a substantial rise in wildlife extraction, which could result in a drastic reduction in animal populations over the medium or long term
The first phase presents the structure of the bushmeat commodity chain in Cameroon, which distinguishes three levels of production and consumption
Summary
Emblematic African mammals (elephants, rhinoceroses, great apes) is currently the subject of much attention and of numerous publications (Brashares et al 2014, Maisels et al 2013) The perpetrators of such acts are often connected to international criminal networks, have sophisticated equipment and influential patrons, who facilitate the trade in dead animals and parts at an international scale (Nasi et al 2008). Wildlife hunting is mainly undertaken by rural populations to meet their nutritional needs and to earn income from the sale of game at local or national markets This type of hunting often faces some legal restrictions (such as a ban on harvesting protected species and on the use of firearms and steel cables) but implementation is largely ad-hoc or absent. With growing human populations (Fa et al 2005), improved hunting equipment (Feer 1996, MacDonald et al 2012), expanding road networks (Laurance et al 2006), lack of alternatives for accessing protein in rural areas (van Vliet et al 2012) and competitive pricing of bushmeat (Fargeot 2006), Central Africa faces a substantial rise in wildlife extraction, which could result in a drastic reduction in animal populations over the medium or long term
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