WWF African Bushmeat Programme

Geographical location:

Africa/Madagascar > Africa General

Africa/Madagascar > Central Africa > Cameroon
Africa/Madagascar > Central Africa > Gabon
Africa/Madagascar > East Africa > Kenya
Africa/Madagascar > East Africa > Tanzania
Africa/Madagascar > West Africa
Africa/Madagascar > West Africa > Ghana

Summary

The WWF Africa and Madagascar Programme has developed a bushmeat programme to implement projects that contribute to the protection of species threatened by hunting and to ensure the hunting of non-threatened species is viable.

Overall objective is that wild animal species are no longer threatened by over-harvesting for food or income in Africa.

Background

Bushmeat is currently vital to the food security of large numbers of people in Africa. It is traditionally eaten throughout the continent because it is cheaper and more readily available than the meat of domesticated animals.

However, consumption of wildlife as food is only likely to be sustainable where human populations are low relative to wildlife production. It is highly unlikely that today's wildlife production is sufficient to supply a majority of African households with the level of animal protein they need. Current demand for bushmeat is leading to catastrophic declines in the populations of some species.

Threatened and endangered species, by their very scarcity, are unlikely to make a significant contribution to the diet of consumers. Therefore, their consumption could be foregone with little impact on the health and welfare of African families.

Rigorous efforts must be made to conserve endangered species, while at the same time ensuring food security for people dependent on hunting and bushmeat. To protect threatened and endangered species, alternatives must be identified which can be harvested sustainably. Efforts must also focus on ensuring that these alternative species are harvested sustainably, and provide alternative and affordable meat sources.

Objectives

Long-term goal

Over the course of the next 25-50 years is that viable populations of vulnerable species (e.g. ungulates and primates) are effectively conserved within African protected area networks, and demand for bushmeat does not exceed sustainable supply.

Specific goal

Ensure that, by 2010, viable populations of vulnerable species (e.g. ungulates and primates) are conserved within protected area networks, and demand for bushmeat does not exceed sustainable supply, in at least 4 West and Central African countries

Identified targets

- Viable populations of species most vulnerable to over-harvesting are conserved in at least 3 African countries.

- Affordable alternatives to bushmeat are available in urban areas in at least 3 countries.

- The governments of at least 3 countries have in place appropriate policies and legislation to protect vulnerable species, and to regulate the utilization of bushmeat resources.

- At least 3 countries have the capacity to monitor and regulate the consumption of bushmeat.

- The need to protect vulnerable species, and to use other species sustainably, is understood by a greater number of people in at least 3 countries.

Solution

1. Anti-poaching
- Species threatened by subsistence hunting and the bushmeat trade are identified, their population status assessed, and population monitoring systems put in place in 3 countries by 2007.
- Poaching reduced in and around at least 6 protected areas in Africa by 2008.

2. Food security and livelihoods
- Affordable alternatives to bushmeat that are acceptable to local people are available in 3 African cities by 2008.
- By 2007, mechanisms for communities to benefit sustainably from bushmeat resources are put in place in 3 countries

3. Policy and Legislation
- By 2007, existing wildlife protection laws are reviewed in 3 countries, strengthened where necessary, and enforced.
- In 3 countries, codes of conduct for the private sector are developed and applied by 2008.

4. Capacity building
- By 2007, the technical capacity to monitor and regulate the bushmeat trade is strengthened in 3 countries.
- By 2008, communities around protected areas have the capacity to regulate subsistence bushmeat consumption to ensure long-term sustainability.

5. Awareness and education
- In 3 countries, the general public, policy-makers, decision-makers, and logging companies are made aware of the scale, value and long-term risks of the bushmeat trade by 2007.
- Environmental education on the bushmeat crisis and the need for sustainability is incorporated into the primary school curriculum in 3 countries by 2008.
- By 2006, a holistic view of the bushmeat issue in Africa is communicated to the international community.