Recipes for Survival_English_tcm46-28192

OBSTACLES TO CHANGEObstacles to change7The economic importance of bushmeat is likely to be the single most important barrierto controlling the over-exploitation of bushmeat; producers and consumers will resistattempts to change their behaviour, and governments have little incentive to imposerestrictions (Wilkie & Carpenter, 1999).For the rural poor without land or access to agricultural markets, the forest providesbuilding materials, fuel, traditional medicines, food and income (van Andel, 2000, cited byNasi, 2001). Bushmeat carries social, economical, nutritional and cultural significance, andpeople traditionally supported by forest products view hunting as their prerogative. Evidencefrom outside Africa suggests that bushmeat consumption starts to drop only when familiesbecome wealthy enough to buy more expensive domestic meats (BCTF, 2000c).Wildlife provides the primary source of animal protein to most poor, forested nationsand provides higher than average incomes for hunters (Apaza et al, 2002). Bushmeatis the most important source of protein in many Central and West African cultures(Wilkie & Carpenter, 1999).Subsistence hunters and their families benefit from the commercial bushmeat trade,and if laws were strictly enforced, their incomes would be affected. Across sub-SaharanAfrica, the limitations on raising livestock due to trypanosomiasis make bushmeathunting a lucrative alternative.Bushmeat is often preferred even where domestic livestock and poultry are readilyavailable and cheaper to purchase (WWF, 2003). Furthermore, people like the tasteof certain species (Peterson, 2003).Many African governments recognise that bushmeat is a major problem but claim theyare powerless to act without necessary resources. In 1996, the Ministry of Agriculture,Water and Forests in Congo-Brazzaville issued a resolution listing measures alreadytaken against the bushmeat trade and those that would, or could, be taken (forexample, the use of anti-poaching teams and education) if funding was available fromthe international community and NGOs (WSPA correspondence). Furthermore, despitea Ministry clamp down on the trade, which included a ban on airline bushmeatOpposite: Animalparts for sale ontraditionalmedicine stall,Bamako, Mali.77© Ian Redmond