Abstract
In tropical forests, wild game meat represents an option or the only protein source for some human populations. This study analyzed the wildlife meat trade destined to human consumption in an open market of the Amazon rainforest, Brazil. Wildlife meat trade was monitored during 2005 through interviews to vendors and consumers in order to evaluate the socioeconomic profile of the sellers, the main species and byproducts sold, their geographical origin, commercial value, frequency of sale and product demand. Data indicated that vendors were financially highly dependant of this activity, getting a monthly income up to US$271.49. During the survey, the amount of wildlife meat on sale added a total of 5 970kg, as follows: 63.2% capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), 34.4% cayman (Melanosuchus niger and/or Caiman crocodilus crocodilus), 1.1% paca (Cuniculus paca); 0.6% armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), 0.5% deer (Mazama americana), 0.2% matamata (Chelus fimbriatus), and 0.1% opossum (Didelphis marsupialis). Most of the commercialized species were not slaughtered locally. The consumption of wildlife meat was admitted by 94% of the interviewed, consisting of 27 ethno-species: 19 mammals, 6 reptiles, and 2 birds. The same percentage of the interviewed (94%) already bought wildlife meat of 18 species: 12 mammals and 6 reptiles. The great amount of wildlife meat traded and the important demand for these products by the local population, point out the necessity to adopt policies for a sustainable management of cinegetic species, guaranteeing the conservation of the environment, the improvement of living standards, and the maintenance of the local culture.
Highlights
The importance of using this natural resource has led to a number of studies being performed in rural areas of the Amazon region, aiming to assess hunting activities conducted by local communities and their implications on biodiversity conservation (Ayres & Ayres 1979, Bodmer et al 1997, Emídio-Silva 1998, Lopes & Ferrari 2000, Peres 2001, Ríos 2001, Bodmer et al 2004, Bonaudo et al 2005)
The majority 66.7% (n=4) of interviewees had been trading in game meat for over twenty years, one assuring that he had been working in this activity for 50 years
The Abaetetuba open-air market is a public marketplace where food, farm products and merchandise is sold, even though is characterized by the sale of wildlife exclusively represented by the sale of game meat and live animals purchased illegally and sold for eating purposes
Summary
The importance of using this natural resource has led to a number of studies being performed in rural areas of the Amazon region, aiming to assess hunting activities conducted by local communities and their implications on biodiversity conservation (Ayres & Ayres 1979, Bodmer et al 1997, Emídio-Silva 1998, Lopes & Ferrari 2000, Peres 2001, Ríos 2001, Bodmer et al 2004, Bonaudo et al 2005). In the Brazilian Amazon, Peres (2000) suggests that the rural population alone probably consumes between 36 392 and 89 224 tons of game meat per year In economic terms, this may represent an annual income. Information is relatively scarce on game meat selling in open-air markets in different urban centers throughout the Amazon region (Sampaio 2003, Bodmer et al 2004). Such information is difficult to obtain in the Brazilian Amazon, perhaps because buying and selling wildlife is an illegal activity (Brazil 1998). We intend to use this information to assess ecological impacts of this activity and the entire social, economic and cultural network it involves, in order to provide information that can underpin concrete activities to achieve sustainable management of Amazonian fauna species with commercial potential
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