Recipes for Survival_English_tcm46-28192

WSPA/APE ALLIANCERECIPES FOR SURVIVALThe Food and Agriculture Organization recommends an annual intake of 22kg of meatprotein per capita. In many areas, bushmeat consumption exceeds this (Barnett, 2000).With average Central Africans eating as much meat per capita as Americans but lackingthe abundant agricultural protein sources found in the US and Europe, a reduction inbushmeat hunting and consumption could force already malnourished people to furtherreduce their meat consumption (Barnett, 2000).Of 800 million people in developing countries, 200 million in Sub-Saharan Africa areundernourished (ABCG, 2004). In many African regions, agricultural productivity isdiminished by poor soils giving disappointing yields, land tenure security, high seasonalvariability and by prevalence of tsetse fly and trypanosomiasis, which kills livestock(Barnett, 2000, Stein & BCTF, 2001). Even in areas where livestock can be raisedsuccessfully, they are largely regarded as insurance commodities, relied on as a bufferduring periods of severe hardship. Domestic meat tends to be available only in rural orurban markets that are situated close to savannahs and ethnic groups with a traditionof pastoralism (Barnett, 2000). In Gabon, 38% of people are dependent on agriculturecompared with 60 – 70% in the Central African Republic (CAR) and Democratic Republicof Congo (DRC) (Fa et al, 2003).The current non-bushmeat protein sources are mainly starchy root vegetables such asmanioc or agricultural meat, seafood and fish. Some of this is available domesticallyand some imported (6% imported in DRC and 55% in Congo-Brazzaville (Congo-B)). Ingeneral, the food production in this region has not increased significantly in the past40 years; in Congo-B, it has decreased by 10% annually (Fa et al, 2003).3.2.3 Economic significanceThe annual contribution of the bushmeat trade to national economies is difficult toestimate, because it is largely unregulated and un-taxed. Nevertheless, it has beenestimated to equal US$24 million in Gabon, US$42 million in Liberia, US$117 million inCôte d’Ivoire and up to US$150 million in Ivory Coast (Bowen-Jones & Pendry, 1999;Kümpel, 2005). The estimated overall annual value of the trade could exceed US$1 billion,with commercial hunters in Central Africa making up to US$1,000 per year – more thanthe average household income (BCTF, 2000c; Wilkie & Eves, 2001). Many rural familiesliving in extreme poverty are making less than US$1 per day (Merode et al, 2004).In Central and West Africa, the trade in bushmeat can supply 90% to 100% of allhousehold income for rural families (Matsura, 2004; Williamson, 2001). In Eastern andSouthern Africa, 39% of household income is supplied by the bushmeat trade; in theKitui District of Kenya, even part-time trading provides an income competitive with moreformal professions (Barnett, 2000). A study found that 74.5% of people arrested forillegal hunting in Serengeti National Park said that they hunted to generate cash incomeand only 24.7% claimed they hunted to obtain food (Loibooki et al, 2002). The samestudy reported that those who owned livestock were significantly less likely to hunt wildanimals but that those who did hunt relied on hunting to supply 51.4% of their protein.THE BROADER BUSHMEAT ISSUEAn estimated 5,226 young adult men from the subsistence farming communities on theboundary of the National Park obtained their primary income from illegal hunting. Foodexpenditure for both poor and wealthy families in Kenya represents more than 70%of monthly income, and so savings made from eating no-cost bushmeat significantlycontribute to living standards (Barnett, 2000).In 1996, it was estimated that wild meat represented 1.4% (about US$150 million) ofCôte d’Ivoire’s gross national product (Williamson, 2001); 120,000 tons of wild meatwas harvested – more than double the annual production from domestic livestock(Caspary, 1999, cited by Williamson, 2001).Bushmeat allows people to purchase materials and items that a subsistence life cannotprovide, as well as generating income for shelter, clothing, taxes and schooling (Ziegleret al, 2002; Bowen-Jones & Pendry, 1999). At a time when per capita spending on socialservices is decreasing, and incomes have plummeted due to falling agricultural prices andcurrency devaluation, the monetary incentive for hunting bushmeat is highly attractive.The likelihood of detection or punishment is minimal and the cost/benefit ratio is veryfavourable, further enhancing the appeal and justification for hunting wildlife. Indeed, theimportance of bushmeat in the Gross Domestic Product and national economy is nowbeing recognised in Central and West Africa (Barnett, 2000; Kümpel, 2005).3.2.4 Cultural significanceCultural and religious importance is also attributed to bushmeat (Apaza et al, 2002).Hunters in Kenya, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe have esteemed status, becausethey provide food for the less capable elderly and female-led households (Barnett,2000). Hunting is, in many cases, a revered activity and/or a social pastime.Furthermore, bushmeat is often sought after by urban elites seeking to retain links toa traditional village lifestyle (BCTF, 2004). In Sarawak, for example, city-dwelling menhunt recreationally, just as do many of their North American and European equivalents.3.3 Factors contributing to commercialbushmeat huntingThe most important driving factors in commercial bushmeat hunting are:1. Increasing human population and rising demand2. Uncontrolled access to forest wildlife facilitated by logging, mining and hydroelectricor fossil fuel transport companies3. War and civil strife4. Weak governance, institutional deficiency and civil disobedience5. Sophistication of hunting techniques6. Lack of capital or infrastructure for meat production7. Changes in the cultural environment and discarding of social taboos and traditional25WSPA/APE ALLIANCE24