The Importance of Bushmeat in the Livelihoods of Cocoa Farmers Living in a Wildlife Depleted Farm-forest Landscape, SW Ghana

The Importance of Bushmeat in the Livelihoods of Cocoa Farmers Living in a Wildlife Depleted Farm-forest Landscape, SW Ghana PDF Author: Björn Schulte-Herbrüggen
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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The Importance of Bushmeat in the Livelihoods of Cocoa Farmers Living in a Wildlife Depleted Farm-forest Landscape, SW Ghana

The Importance of Bushmeat in the Livelihoods of Cocoa Farmers Living in a Wildlife Depleted Farm-forest Landscape, SW Ghana PDF Author: Björn Schulte-Herbrüggen
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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The Importance of Bushmeat in the Livelihoods of Cocoa Farmers Living in a Wildlife Depleted Farm-forest Landscape, SW Ghana

The Importance of Bushmeat in the Livelihoods of Cocoa Farmers Living in a Wildlife Depleted Farm-forest Landscape, SW Ghana PDF Author: B. Schulte-Herbruggen
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Bushmeat is an important source of cash income and animal protein in rural sub-Saharan Africa. However, hunting levels are largely unsustainable, resulting in the widespread depletion and local extinction of prey species. This is a problem for both the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable development of rural African communities. This thesis investigates the consequences of wildlife depletion for the livelihood security of Ghanaian cocoa farmers with diversified incomes. The overarching hypothesis that runs through the study is that the importance of bushmeat in livelihoods increases with household vulnerability (i.e. poor households and female-headed households), especially during the agricultural lean season. The study is based primarily on repeated socio-economic questionnaires (N=804), conducted over twelve months among 63 households inWansampo: an agricultural community situated in a forest reserve in SW Ghana. The research found that the amount of bushmeat harvested was low and limited to smallbodied species, suggesting severe depletion of wildlife populations around the study village. Protein insecurity and income poverty were widespread but neither co-varied strongly with household vulnerability. While income poverty was highest during the lean season, total protein consumption/security did not vary across seasons. Hunting was efficiently integrated into agricultural activities, with bushmeat being a minor part of household income and protein consumption. Contrary to expectations, household vulnerability had little effect on the importance of bushmeat in livelihoods. However, during the lean season, the bushmeat harvest increased. Since most bushmeat was consumed by the hunter's household, the relative dietary importance of bushmeat was highest during the lean season, enabling households to reduce their meat/fish expenditures while maintaining protein consumption levels. Moreover, when income shortages were highest, bushmeat sales increased, preventing some households from falling into income poverty. In summary, despite local wildlife depletion, the importance of bushmeat for both income and protein security increased during the lean season. This suggests that bushmeat is an important safety-net for some households in this community. The thesis concludes by outlining the study's limitations, before suggesting further research and policy implications.

Food Security and Food Sovereignty Challenges in Africa

Food Security and Food Sovereignty Challenges in Africa PDF Author: Lere Amusan
Publisher: Ethics International Press
ISBN: 1804410519
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 389

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Book Description
This edited volume advances knowledge of food security and food sovereignty for students and researchers. The book analyses and interprets field data and interrogates relevant literature, which forms the basis for decisions on improving food security and sovereignty in Africa. It deepens an understanding of food fraud, and of multinational corporations’ (MNCs) manipulations of food quality to the detriment of consumers. It provides information to advance new knowledge on the issue of international interdependency of unequal exchange, and the inactions of governments against the dumping and waste of food.

Problematic Wildlife

Problematic Wildlife PDF Author: Francesco M. Angelici
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319222465
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 613

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Book Description
This book provides insight into the instances in which wildlife species can create problems. Some species trigger problems for human activities, but many others need humans to save them and to continue to exist. The text addresses issues faced by economists and politicians dealing with laws involving actions undertaken to resolve the problems of the interaction between humans and wildlife. Here, the words ‘problematic species’ are used in their broadest sense, as may be appreciated in the short introductions to the various sections. At times, the authors discuss special cases while always extending the discussion into a more general and broad vision. At others, they present real cutting-edge analysis of ecological topics and issues. The book will be of interest to biologists, ecologists and wildlife managers involved in research on wildlife, parks, and environmental management, as well as to government departments and agencies, NGOs and conservation wildlife organizations. Even those in contact with nature, such as hunters, herders, and farmers, will be able to find a great deal of important information. Specific case studies are selected from among the most significant and prevalent cases throughout the world. A total of 26 papers have been selected for this book, written by zoologists, biologists and ecologists. Many have an interdisciplinary approach, with contributions by economists, criminologists, technical specialists, and engineers.

Bushmeat and Livelihoods

Bushmeat and Livelihoods PDF Author: Glyn Davies
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0470691697
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 288

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Book Description
This book explores the links between bushmeat and livelihoods in Africa, with a focus on the human dimension of the debate. Assembles biological, social and economic perspectives that illuminate the bushmeat debate Features a series of case studies that explore what species survive different intensities of bushmeat hunting and trapping Examines the shape and size of household bushmeat consumption and market trading Reviews governance and institutional impacts on wildlife management; lessons learned from agriculture, forest plant product, and development sectors; and perspectives from Asia and Latin America Provides an excellent resource for students and policy makers in wildlife management, conservation, and development

Towards a sustainable, participatory and inclusive wild meat sector

Towards a sustainable, participatory and inclusive wild meat sector PDF Author: Coad, L.
Publisher: CIFOR
ISBN: 602387083X
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 200

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Book Description
The meat of wild species, referred to in this report as ‘wild meat’, is an essential source of protein and a generator of income for millions of forest-living communities in tropical and subtropical regions. However, unsustainable harvest rates currently

Bushmeat harvest in tropical forests

Bushmeat harvest in tropical forests PDF Author: Varun Swamy
Publisher: CIFOR
ISBN: 6021504488
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 32

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Book Description
Food security is increasingly becoming a priority for tropical countries. This has led to reconsideration of the need to find systems and practices of sustainable harvest, consumption and trade of bushmeat and other wildlife products. This paper provides a synthesis of information found in the expanding global literature on the many dimensions and functions of game species, bushmeat and other game resources. Much research effort has focused on documenting and measuring the impact of bushmeat harvesting on populations of targeted game species. This has resulted in an emphasis of conservation effort on the protection of game species and the criminalization of hunting, bushmeat trade and consumption. Despite decades of official bans on bushmeat trade and consumption, some socioeconomic studies have shown that bushmeat is often the main source of protein and income for low-income urban and rural families in some tropical countries. Similarly, the role of large and small-bodied game species in the sustainable provision of seed dispersion and other ecosystem services are underlined by some ecological and conservation biology studies. A great diversity of complex management systems of game species in forests and on agriculture land are reported by some ethnographic studies. The encouraging results from some bushmeat studies are an incentives to conduct evidence-based studies that can generate knowledge and information that can help policy-makers to make informed decisions.

Biodiversity, Carbon and Chocolate

Biodiversity, Carbon and Chocolate PDF Author: Lord K. Ameyaw
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 138

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Book Description
Global demand of cocoa for chocolate moved the native cocoa production frontier from ancient Maya and Aztec to other favorable tropical locations around the world. Cocoa growing arrived in West Africa sometime by the late 1800s and was an instant success story. A massive investment in the form of expansion of lands under cultivation, intensification driven by improved varieties/systems and a plethora of farming incentives have led West Africa to supply more than half of the world's cocoa. Cocoa agroforestry provides a livelihood for many smallholder farmers and significant contribution to national economies; however, it also results in deforestation and land degradation. The traditional cocoa agroforestry system in highly forested tropical regions, utilized shade cocoa systems and require overhead canopy and favorable humidity to thrive. Thus, lands suitable for forest reserves or timber production, are also suitable for cocoa production. Land conversion of biodiverse High Forests in Ghana, part of the global biodiversity hotspot of the West African Guinean forest landscape, have allowed Ghana to become the second largest global cocoa producing nation. Cocoa led deforestation dominates the reported 2% rate of deforestation. In order to curb cocoa-led deforestation, it is essential to understand the crucial social, economic and environmental underpinnings of cocoa production. This study focuses on determining land use change and deforestation in the Krokosua Hills Forest Reserve, one of the most important cocoa producing areas of Ghana. Land use types are regulated within the reserve and timber production and protected area inside the reserve were compared with areas immediately outside the forest reserve over a 17-year period using multispectral satellite images acquired from Landsat and Sentinel earth observatory programs. A two-step land use pattern of change was observed, with closed forest land changing to open forest, and open forests were converted to croplands. These changes were mostly observed in areas of the forest reserve which have been technically designated as a production zone for wood/timber harvesting and admitted farming, in comparison to the areas specifically maintained for forest protection. Tree species composition varied significantly among the two broad management zones in comparison to uncultivated land within the forest reserve. Classifying tree species into ecological guilds depicts a natural reference condition of shade tolerant species, with non-pioneer light demanders among natural regeneration encountered in uncultivated areas. In contrast with other areas of the reserve where cocoa farming is interspersed with forests, regeneration of shade tolerant species is rare, with a greater amount of species as non-pioneer light demanders and pioneer species. Species composition of adult trees also showed a pattern of higher proportions of economically valuable species on cocoa farms compared with natural forest areas that are more diverse and have species represented in all the economic valuation classes of trees. In essence, cocoa farming promotes deforestation and species compositional changes that unequivocally present a challenge for forest management, particularly where objectives of cocoa farming and forestry are both emphasized within a broad land use category. This study suggests timber production and cocoa production, two vital industries in Ghana are connected with initial cutting leading conversion to cocoa. Cocoa production is susceptible to climatic variations which may be mitigated by environmentally friendly shaded cocoa production which effectively reduce associated deforestation. However, once cocoa farms are established, reduction of shade trees increases forest degradation, as farmers seek to increase cocoa yields. Therefore, land use change and the physical environment are interconnected. Since cocoa cultivation is essential to many livelihoods in Ghana, a changing global climate is of concern to smallholder cocoa farmers. Understanding cocoa farmers' perceptions on topics of climate change and its impacts are thus necessary to assess the potential of recent economic incentives to enhance sustainable cocoa production. A social survey of farmers' perception/knowledge of climate change and its potential effect on cocoa production was conducted to assess beliefs. I examined the potential of economic incentives of a REDD+ climate mitigation strategy as an alternative income generating avenue to maintain lower intensity, shaded cocoa production. Farmers' perceptions of climate were not in agreement with empirical data. Although farmers recognize the need to protect trees to provide ecosystem benefits, the system of direct monetary benefits associated with tree protection/maintenance presents a challenge for the success of integrating climate change mitigation strategies (REDD+) into cocoa farming. Common farm/cultural practices of cocoa farmers (e.g. slash and burn) may also degrade land, reducing forest biodiversity and releasing carbon.

Conservation and Use of Wildlife-based Resources

Conservation and Use of Wildlife-based Resources PDF Author: Robert Nasi
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Food supply
Languages : en
Pages : 56

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Book Description
The importance of wildlife. Wildlife and sustainable livehoods. The bushmeat crisis. Synergistic factors affecting the sustainability of hunting. Linkages between bushmeat harvest and other available protein sources. Lessons learned and recommendations.

The harvest of wildlife for bushmeat and traditional medicine in East, South and Southeast Asia

The harvest of wildlife for bushmeat and traditional medicine in East, South and Southeast Asia PDF Author: Tien Ming Lee
Publisher: CIFOR
ISBN: 6021504542
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 56

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Book Description
Bushmeat has always provided a source of nutrition and traditional medicine for local people throughout Asia; this important resource is becoming increasingly under pressure due to loss of forest and overharvesting because of rising demand from growing human populations and trade (legal and illegal). For this reason, the conservation of forests and sustainable use of wildlife are both imperative for improving rural livelihoods and poverty alleviation. A comprehensive literature review yielded 236 papers relevant to this topic, with the greatest number of papers discussing Southeast Asia (61%) followed by South Asia (22%) and East Asia (16%). Potential solutions that emerged from the review include the use of: measures of harvest to better gauge sustainable offtake levels, protected areas and recovery zones; improved governance; and the implementation of co-management partnerships. Potential solutions for the traditional medicine trade include urban demand reduction campaigns, introduction of synthetic alternatives, increased efforts to reduce illegal trade, and implementation of certification schemes for wildlife products. In all of these cases, a myriad of social implications, such as the importance and spiritual significance of bushmeat in different cultures, the preferences for bushmeat over farmed alternatives and the tradition of wildlife-derived medicines, must be considered. Areas for further research include: the study of climate change on bushmeat and food security; the traditional medicine supply chain; consumer reaction to synthetic alternatives; the use of bushmeat particularly for medicinal purposes in urban societies; and the negative effects of the growing wildlife trade on local livelihoods.