Wildlife Harvest and Consumption in Amazonia's Urbanized Wilderness. Issue 6 (4th December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Parry, Luke; Barlow, Jos; Pereira, Heloisa
• Is Part Of: Conservation letters. Volume 7:Issue 6(2014:Nov./Dec.)
• Page Start: 565
• Page End: 574
• Publication Date: 2014-12-04
• Subjects: Biodiversity conservation -- Periodicals; Biodiversity -- Monitoring -- Periodicals; 333.9516
• DOI: 10.1111/conl.12151
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1755-263X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Urbanization of forested wilderness could threaten biodiversity if expanding cities drive demand for wildlife as food. We examined the scale and drivers of urban wildlife consumption in the forested prefrontier of Brazilian Amazonia, defined as municipalities (<italic>n</italic> = 73) with over 90% of their original forest cover still intact. A representative survey of two prefrontier cities indicated that virtually all urban households consume wildlife, including fish (99%), bushmeat (mammals and birds; 79%), chelonians (48%) and caimans (28%)—alarming evidence of an underreported wild‐meat crisis in the heart of Amazonia. We also report rapid growth of cities and inadequate resources to deter illegal consumption in this urbanized wilderness covering 1.86 million km². We evaluate relevant policy levers and conclude that poverty‐alleviation programs may accelerate a long‐term transition from consumption of wildlife as an economical source of protein for the poor to luxury food for the wealthy. We argue that innovative environmental governance could limit wildlife consumption to only harvest‐tolerant species. Researchers and policy‐makers should engage with policies and ideas that promote poverty alleviation and supply poor city‐dwellers with affordable alternatives to eating wildlife.</p> </abstract>