Social Ecology

Rural and urban people are inextricably tied to the bushmeat crisis in Africa. They form the network of hunters, traders, truck drivers, market-resellers, restaurateurs and consumers, that moves wildlife from the forest to the urban cooking pot. Wildlife provides protein, cultural and religious linkages, and a source of income for many families. People do not typically view bushmeat hunting as a problem, rather wild animals are viewed as crop pests, threats to lives and livelihoods, an inexhaustible resource free-for-the-taking, and a new source of income. However, growing human population and changing economic conditions are driving demand for bushmeat that now exceeds the rate that hunted wildlife are replaced within the forest.

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Social Ecology (Fact Sheet) 149.67 KB
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