Biodiversity Conservation and the Livelihoods of Local Communities

The objective of this book is to contribute to the development of a model for the sustainable management of bushmeat in the northeastern periphery of Korup National Park (KNP) in particular and in the Southwest Region in general. A questionnaire-based survey of direct and indirect stakeholders in the bushmeat sector was conducted. A total of 305 willing participants were interviewed-ranging from hunters to consumers-as well as 12 officials responsible for wildlife management in the area. Direct field observations confirmed the respondents' statements, while photographs were used to illustrate the findings. The results show that the species groups traded consist of mammals (95.2%), reptiles (4.7%), and birds (0.1%). Between the hunters (exclusively men) and the consumers are the "buyam sellam" (both men and women), classified into four categories: wholesalers, semi-wholesalers, retailers, and restaurant owners. Together, these actors form an illegal bushmeat trade network in which 15.9% of the direct participants have no other source of income.