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Characterising Wildlife Trade Market Supply-Demand Dynamics.
J McNamara1,2, M Rowcliffe2, G Cowlishaw2
1Imperial College London, Division of Biology, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, Berks, United Kingdom.
Plos One
|September 16, 2016
Summary
Urban bushmeat trade in Kumasi, Ghana, is primarily driven by supply shortages, not consumer demand. Management interventions should focus on altering hunter behavior to address wildlife depletion.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Conservation Biology
- Environmental Economics
Background:
- Wildlife product trade offers income but threatens species.
- Bushmeat trade impacts livelihoods, nutrition, and tropical forest biodiversity.
- Management strategies often target consumers or suppliers of wildlife products.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the driving forces behind the urban bushmeat trade in Kumasi, Ghana.
- To analyze the interplay of resource condition, hunter behavior, and consumer behavior in the bushmeat market.
- To challenge the assumption that urban bushmeat trade is solely demand-driven.
Main Methods:
- Case study of the urban bushmeat trade in Kumasi, Ghana.
- Analysis of diverse datasets to explore market dynamics.
- Characterization of supply and demand by examining resource condition, hunter behavior, and consumer behavior.
Main Results:
- Bushmeat resources near Kumasi are depleted and cannot meet demand.
- Hunter participation in the trade is independent of market price signals.
- Consumption levels are dictated by supply shortfalls and price reactions, not consumer preference.
Conclusions:
- Supply-side factors predominantly influence the Kumasi urban bushmeat trade.
- Future management should prioritize interventions to modify hunter behavior.
- Long-term conservation may require complementary strategies addressing consumer demand.
- The study presents a repeatable method for assessing market dynamics in data-limited systems.
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