Hunting indicators; Wildlife management; Tropical Africa; Local communities; Biodiversity preservation; Protected areas; Faunal composition; Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework; Faunal degradation
Abstract :
[en] AbstractEngaging local communities is pivotal for wildlife conservation beyond protected areas, aligning with the 30 × 30 target of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. We assessed the effectiveness of 33 offtake indicators, derived from hunter declarations, in monitoring the status and extent of degradation of hunted wildlife sourced from camera trap surveys and faunal composition analysis. The rodents:ungulates ratio in offtake and the mean body mass of total offtake emerged as practical and robust indicators of faunal degradation within hunting systems, with significant potential for broader application in similar tropical forest environments. Our findings provide a blueprint for managing and conserving natural resources in tropical regions through community-based initiatives. Involving local stakeholders ensures sustainable wildlife use and fosters ownership and responsibility. This study advances conservation efforts, bridging scientific rigor with community engagement for effective biodiversity preservation.
Disciplines :
Environmental sciences & ecology Life sciences: Multidisciplinary, general & others
Author, co-author :
Fonteyn, Davy
Fayolle, Adeline ; Université de Liège - ULiège > TERRA Research Centre > Gestion des ressources forestières
Fa, Julia E.
Vanthomme, Hadrien
Vigneron, Philippe
Vermeulen, Cédric ; Université de Liège - ULiège > TERRA Research Centre > Gestion des ressources forestières
EU - European Union FRIA - Fonds pour la Formation à la Recherche dans l'Industrie et dans l'Agriculture USAID - United States Agency for International Development UKRI - UK Research and Innovation
Funding text :
We are grateful to the National Centre for Scientific and Technical Research for providing CIRAD and its partners, research authorization n°AR002/l 9/MESRS/CENAREST/CG/CST/SCAR to undertake our study in Gabonese territory. We are also grateful to the European Union for funding the Sustainable Wildlife Management Programme and to the team in Gabon who began the community engagement in the study area, particularly Martin HEGA. Acknowledgements are also due to the many students and technical staff who initiated the participative monitoring of offtake and hunting activities since March 2019, especially Robin HORION, Jeff OSSELE, Manon VERBEKE, Ulrich LEYANGA, Cindy ASSIO and Guy-Landry MAMBOUNDOU KOUIMA. We also wish to thank the PWG-CEB company and the staff of the Agence Nationale des Parcs Nationaux for providing access to the study area. This article is also an output of the Sustainable Wildlife Management Programme (https://www.swm-programme.info/), funded by the European Union with cofunding from the French Facility forGlobal Environment (FFEM) and the French Development Agency (AFD). Additional funding has been granted to D.F. through the 'Fonds pour la Formation à la Recherche dans l'Industrie et dans l'Agriculture' and through the 'Programme de Promotion de l'Exploitation Certifiée des Forêts'. Funding to J.E.F. was provided by USAID as part of the Bushmeat Research Initiative of the CGIAR research program on Forests, Trees, and Agroforestry and through the UK Research and Innovation’s Global Challenges Research Fund (UKRIGCRF) through the Trade, Development and the Environment Hub project (project number ES/S008160/1).
