Recipes for Survival_English_tcm46-28192

RECIPES FOR SURVIVALSupport for certification by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), African TimberOrganisation (ATO) or International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO), as well asa growth in consumer demand for certified wood will help in mainstreaming thesechanges. European timber companies, looking to increase profits as a result ofcompetition with Asian rivals, could be responsive to the demand for sustainablyharvested wood (Bowen-Jones & Pendry, 1999). Trade organisations such as ITTOcould be more involved in regulating imports of timber.Tropical timber certification needs to be contingent on control of bushmeat hunting, andany timber sold under the label of sustainable should be evaluated for the impact of itsextraction on wildlife. Periodic revision of agreements between government and forestexploiters in accordance with the state of the ecosystem should also be put in place.Codes of conduct for exploiters of forest and wildlife products need to be developedand adhered to. Conservation bonds have been proposed as an incentive for loggingcompanies to do this, but have yet to be successfully implemented.8.1.7 ProtectionIncreases in the number, size and protection of wildlife reserves and in donor supportare needed. Reserves should be established in areas where large populations ofendangered species exist unprotected. Areas that harbour the most biodiversityshould be prioritised.The size of the protected areas is also important. Studies have shown that smallerparks suffer a greater impact from hunting than larger ones (Wilkie et al, 1998).Law enforcement is a prerequisite of successful conservation in protected areas.The management concept for the National Park of Upper Niger, West Guinea, wherebushmeat hunting is widely commercialised, does not prohibit hunting in the bufferzones, on the grounds that it is an economically important activity for the local people(Zielger et al, 2002). A “participatory” approach is adopted, whereby hunters areeducated about sustainable use.Though war, in some cases, can be beneficial to wildlife, this is usually the case onlywhen it secures certain areas from human presence (Draulans & Van Krunkelsven,2002). Demilitarized ‘peace parks’ such as those created for trans-boundary parks(for example, the Virunga chain) could usefully be applied to war zones. Reluctanceof conservationists to collaborate with soldiers and military authorities may bemisconceived in areas where chronic war is having a severe impact on wildlife. Theurgency of the threats faced by many species suggests that waiting for an improvedpolitical situation is an impractical option (Draulans & Van Krunkelsven, 2002).POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS8.1.8 EducationGreater recognition of the value of and the services provided by tropical forests andtheir biodiversity is important. Trade in timber and other forest products generatesa huge amount of money, yet the economic significance of forests is rarely taken intoaccount when assessing Gross Domestic Product (Nasi, 2001). Furthermore, theservices provided by a tropical forest (carbon dioxide absorption, oxygen production,erosion control, nutrient recycling and so on) far outweigh the GDP of tropical countriesin an economic context.Public awareness could be increased through local and global media materials (books,magazines, television and cinema materials, as well as radio and newspapercampaigns) and social marketing techniques that give threatened species nationalemblem status. Television advertisements in developed countries (mainly Europe)showing graphic bushmeat-related images could increase awareness without relyingon people watching entire programmes.People involved at all levels of the trade (hunters, traders, truck drivers, marketresellers,restaurateurs and consumers) need to be educated on the imperativeto conserve protected species and on relevant laws and regulations, with preciseinstructions to prevent them participating directly or indirectly in bushmeat trade.School presentations (including theatre and dancing) could be implemented more widelyto reach the younger generation. School and university curricula could be adapted tohighlight the social, ecological and economic importance of viable wildlife populations.89WSPA/APE ALLIANCE© WSPA88Above: Protectedwildlife habitat atthe TacugamaChimp Sanctuary,Sierra Leone.