Biologic, Economic and Nutritional Implications of the Wildlife Harvest & Bushmeat Trade in Liberia, West Africa

Reg Hoyt (Forest Partners International) presented results and implications of his work surveying bushmeat marketers and users in Liberia, primarily large cities and small communities around Sapo National Park. Main results:  Liberia has high biodiversity value, some of the best remaining habitat in West Africa.  Wildlife harvest is significant and largely unsustainable.  The benefits of bushmeat are substantial and must be replaced as part of any conservation plan:

• Major element of national, regional and local economy ($100M to replace!)
• Major component of national meat production (75%)
• Rural nutritional and economic “safety net” (with benefits available regardless of gender, age, status)