A Dream for a Better World

In an alarming report released by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFR), large mammal species such as elephants and gorillas could be wiped out within 50 years in Central Africa if bush meat hunting is not curbed.  Up to 1million tons of bush meat is consumed in this area annually.  But experts warn that an outright ban on bush meat hunting will have dire consequences on the rural poor.  Bush meat provides up to 80% of protein and fat in rural diets and there are no acceptable substitutes if a blanket ban on hunting is executed.  The report recommends that policies should be developed to both protect endangered species and allow sustainable hunting of common game.  One of the keys to resolving the problem is to differentiate between rural poor hunting to survive and those using bush meat for commercial purposes.