NEWSLETTER

Project type: Associated

  • Central Africa Bushmeat Research Into Policies (CA-BRIP)

    Central Africa Bushmeat Research Into Policies (CA-BRIP)

    The need

    Unsustainable bushmeat hunting is a key threat to biodiversity and food security in Central Africa, and the regional capacity to develop effective policies and practices for sustainable wildlife management is lacking.  

    The governments of Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Gabon are all at different stages of reforming their bushmeat policies, and the Central Africa Bushmeat Research Into Policies (CA-BRIP) network aims to support them on their journey to develop sustainable, equitable, and safe bushmeat systems across the region. 

    Duration

    Ongoing

    Locations

    Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Gabon 

    What we’re doing

    The CA-BRIP network is a platform for debate and dialogue that bridges research and policy development to improve wildlife-resource governance across the region.  

    Its members envision a future where species sold and consumed for bushmeat (both urban and rural) are not sourced from Protected Areas and are not on the IUCN or National Red Lists of endangered species. To do this, CA-BRIP provides national policy makers with on-request analyses and information to inform their decisions. Additional objectives include: 

    • Capacity building for researchers in Central Africa, especially related to fundraising, communication, and the production, processing and use of scientific data for decision-making 
    • Producing, harmonizing and disseminating scientific papers and policy briefs to improve understanding of the dynamics governing bushmeat use in Central African countries and inform targeted decision making. 
    • Facilitating spaces for dialogue among stakeholders (e.g. researchers, policymakers, practitioners and stakeholders involved in bushmeat use and management) 
    • Promoting the development and implementation of concerted, evidence-informed policies. 

    CA-BRIP takes a decentralized approach to implementation; its network includes technical partners and diverse members who represent both institutions and individuals.  

    The team

    CA-BRIP is founded by five institutions, which make up the General Assembly: The Institute for Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD-Cameroon), the Institute for Research in Tropical Ecology (IRET – Gabon), the Regional Post-Graduate Training School on Integrated Management of Tropical Forests and Lands (ERAIFT – DRC), the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), and the University of Oxford. This General Assembly defines CA-BRIP’s strategic priorities and priority action plans. 

    At the regional level, the network is managed by a General Coordinator who represents CA-BRIP and ensures its overall operation. The General Coordinator is supported by focal points in each country. 

    Leadership

    Eric D. Nana

    General Coordinator and Country Focal Point, Cameroon

    Donald Midoko Iponga

    Country Focal Point, Gabon

    Krossy Mavakala

    Country Focal Point, DRC

    Advisory group

    Juliet Wright

    Advisor | University of Oxford

    Lauren Coad

    Advisor | CIFOR-ICRAF

    Guillermo R. Brull

    Advisor | CIFOR-ICRAF

    Featured work

    Central Africa Bushmeat Research Into Policies (CA-BRIP)

    WILDMEAT database

    Supporters

    This initiative is generously supported through the Darwin Initiative, with additional funding from the European Union (EU) Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme and CIFOR-ICRAF.

    Related projects

    WILDMEAT project

    Evidence-based approaches to sustainable wild meat management

    Central Africa Bushmeat Research Into Policies (CA-BRIP)

    Central Africa Bushmeat Research Into Policies (CA-BRIP)

    Bridging research and policy development for evidence-informed wildlife management

    Central Africa Bushmeat Research Into Policies (CA-BRIP)
  • Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme

    Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme

    The need

    Wild meat is a vital source of food and income for millions, particularly Indigenous Peoples and local communities in tropical and subtropical regions. But unsustainable hunting is driving wildlife declines, putting around over 300 mammal species at risk of extinction and threatening both ecosystems and rural food security.

    Duration

    2018 – Present

    Locations

    Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Gabon, Guyana, Laos, Madagascar, Mauritania, Namibia, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe

    Links

    Visit the SWM website

    About the SWM Programme

    The Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme aims to improve the conservation and sustainable use of wildlife in forest, savannah, and wetland ecosystems.

    Working in 16 countries across four consortium partners, the Programme blends science, traditional knowledge and community rights to strengthen natural resource management while partnering with Indigenous Peoples and local communities to develop context-specific solutions.

    The SWM Programme is also engaged in international policy work, contributing to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance and the implementation of the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA).

    Learn more

    What we’re doing

    The Sustainable Use of Wild Species Transformative Partnership Platform (SU-TPP) and the SWM Programme share a common vision: advancing evidence-informed approaches to sustainable wildlife management that deliver biodiversity conservation, food security and resilient livelihoods.

    This collaboration is supported through Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)—SU-TPP’s host and a consortium partner in the SWM Programme—which enables joint work at SWM sites in Asia-Pacific, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guyana and Zambia.

    SWM Programme – Cameroon

    Community-based wildlife management to ensure sustainable wild meat use, food security, and health

    Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme

    SWM Programme – Asia-Pacific

    Assessment of current knowledge and research gaps on wild meat value chains in the Asia-Pacific region

    Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme

    SWM Programme – Guyana

    Community-based wildlife management to ensure sustainable wild meat use, food security, and health

    Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme

    The team

    This SWM Programme is implemented by a consortium of four organizations:

    CIFOR-ICRAF project lead

    Lauren Coad

    l.coad@cifor-icraf.org

    Featured work

    Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme

    WILDMEAT database

    Supporters

    This project is funded by the European Union and contributes to the European Global Gateway and NaturAfrica initiative. The SWM Programme is co-funded and supported by the French Global Environmental Facility (FFEM) and the French Development Agency (AFD).

    Related projects

    Disease transmission and wild meat food chain: From forest to fork in Cameroon

    Understanding and reducing zoonotic risks in wild meat supply chains

    Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme

    WILDMEAT project

    Evidence-based approaches to sustainable wild meat management

    Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme
  • SWM Programme – Asia-Pacific

    SWM Programme – Asia-Pacific

    The need

    Wild meat hunting is one of the greatest threats to wildlife globally. Wild meat is also an important source of protein and income to millions of people across the world. While there have been many studies of wild meat use, there has been limited collation and meta-analysis of these studies. Designing effective polices requires robust data on wild meat use, including the use of wild meat for food and income by local communities, the trade in wild meat locally, nationally and regionally, and the impact of use on species and ecosystems. The creation of long-term global, regional and national monitoring frameworks for wild meat to inform policy and legal interventions are crucial steps in recognizing the importance of existing wild meat use and trade, and designing relevant interventions to manage it sustainably, where possible.

    The Asia-Pacific region is a hotspot for zoonotic diseases due to the frequent interaction between native wildlife species, livestock and people. This risk is exacerbated by rising population pressure, habitat degradation and extensive wildlife trade (legal and illegal), including the demand for wild meat. However, unlike other regions like Central Africa or Latin America, the contribution of wild meat value chains to rural food security and household income are still poorly understood. Similarly, there is little actionable evidence on the impact of wild meat use and consumption on biodiversity loss and on the emergence and transmission of diseases.

    Duration

    2024 – Present

    Locations

    Asia-Pacific (Laos, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Vietnam)

    Link

    SWM Programme Asia-Pacific Project

    What we’re doing

    The Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme is designed to reduce hunting of wildlife to sustainable levels, protecting endangered wildlife species, conserving biodiversity, maintaining the essential ecological roles of wildlife within forested and savanna ecosystems, and securing stocks and flows of provisioning ecosystem services.

    The SWM Programme works in 16 countries, developing innovative, collaborative and scalable new approaches to conserve wild animals and protect ecosystems, whilst at the same time improving the livelihoods of indigenous peoples and rural communities who depend on these resources. Monitoring and Evaluation is a key part of the project, which has collected baseline information on wild meat use in each of the project sites, as well as monitoring the impacts of project interventions on people and wildlife.

    In 2024, the SWM Programme started a two-year programme of work in Asia and the Pacific, focusing on understanding the key drivers of wild meat use and consumption in the region, the risks of zoonotic spillover associated with this use, and options for sustainable and safe use of wild meat. As part of this regional project, SWM partners are conducting the first comprehensive regional assessment of wild meat value chains across Asia and the Pacific.

    Systematic review of the wild meat literature in the region

    We are conducting a scoping review / systematic mapping exercise to identify literature on wild meat in Asia-Pacific and understand how wild meat systems in Asia-Pacific are managed, reported and monitored. We also aim to understand what interventions (activities to manage wild meat sustainably) have been implemented in Asia-Pacific countries and identify knowledge gaps at the country-level.

    Regional analysis of wild meat use in the Asia-Pacific region

    While conducting the scoping review, we identified studies and authors who published primary data on hunting offtakes, consumption, and market sales. Other data sources from various projects and initiatives were identified through online surveys and in close collaboration with SWM Programme partners and other key stakeholders working on these topics in the region. The wild meat use data from these sources is currently being formatted prior to entry into the WILDMEAT Use database, and will then be used in regional data analyses aimed at 1) describing the key characteristics of wild meat use in the region, including an overview of the wild species and the volumes hunted, consumed and/or traded, the main uses of wild meat and the market prices; and 2) assessing the environmental and socioeconomic predictors of market characteristics such as price and species composition.

    Learn more about the SWM Programme

    The team

    This project is a collaboration between:

    • Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
    • French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD)
    • Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)
    • Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)

    Project leads:

    Lauren Coad

    l.coad@cifor-icraf.org

    Jasmin Willis

    jasmin.willis@biology.ox.ac.uk

    Charlotte Spira

    cspira.conservation@gmail.com

    Featured work

    SWM Programme – Asia-Pacific

    WILDMEAT database

    Supporters

    This project is supported by:

    Related projects

    Consumption and trade of wild animals in West and Central Africa

    Understanding urban wild meat consumption and its socio-ecological impacts

    SWM Programme – Asia-Pacific

    Guyana songbird project

    Understanding and addressing the demand for wild-caught songbirds

    SWM Programme – Asia-Pacific
  • SWM Programme – Guyana

    SWM Programme – Guyana

    The need

    Fish and wildlife are central to Indigenous diets and culture in the Rupununi, where hunting is predominantly subsistence-based. The Rupununi region is located far away from coastal wild-meat markets, yet biodiversity faces growing threats from infrastructure, competing land uses, climate change and social-economic transitions. While conservation has grown and evolved in the Rupununi over the years, there is still a need to foster sustainable management practices. In addition, there is a need to generate lessons that are valuable for other Caribbean and Amazonian countries and to favour the experience exchanges within the region.

    As part of the SWM Programme, this project helps communities consolidate proven co-management models in the Rupununi region.

    Duration

    2018 – Present

    Location

    Guyana (Rupununi)

    Link

    SWM Guyana

    What we’re doing

    The SWM Programme is designed to reduce hunting of wildlife to sustainable levels, protecting endangered wildlife species, conserving biodiversity, maintaining the essential ecological roles of wildlife within forested and savanna ecosystems, and securing stocks and flows of provisioning ecosystem services. The project works in 16 countries, developing innovative, collaborative and scalable new approaches to conserve wild animals and protect ecosystems, whilst at the same time improving the livelihoods of indigenous peoples and rural communities who depend on these resources. Monitoring and evaluation are key for the project, and each of the project sites have already collected baseline information on wild meat use. The project is also monitoring the impacts of project interventions on people and wildlife.

    The SWM Programme in Guyana is encouraging coordinated community-driven initiatives that support food security and traditional livelihoods. These will contribute to maintaining healthy fish and terrestrial wildlife populations. During Phase 2, the SWM Guyana is consolidating management models that were put in place in the Rupununi during Phase 1, including:

    1

    Implementation of fisheries co-management in the North Rupununi Wetlands.

    2

    Development of the Wapichan Wiizi plan (9,957 km²) and a regional freshwater turtle plan.

    3

    Capacity-building and partnerships with local organisations to improve livelihoods and food security for ~24,000 people across 39 Indigenous communities (Wapishana, Makushi).

    4

    Knowledge exchange and documentation of lessons for peers across the Caribbean and Amazon.

    Learn more about the SWM Programme

    The team

    The SWM Programme is being implemented by a consortium of partners working together with governments and local communities. The consortium includes the:

    • Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
    • French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD)
    • Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)
    • Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)

    In Guyana, the SWM programme management remains the responsibility of the Government of Guyana through the government’s focal point—Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission (GWCMC)—and CIFOR-ICRAF in close collaboration with the DUE (represented by the focal point for the SWM Programme), and FAO-GY (represented by the focal point for the SWM Programme).

    Project leads:

    Lauren Coad

    l.coad@cifor-icraf.org

    Michelle Kenyon

    m.kenyon89@yahoo.com

    Featured work

    SWM Programme – Guyana

    SWM Sustainable Wildlife Management Programme – Executive Summary: Progress and impact 2018–2024

    2025

    SWM Programme – Guyana

    Factors inflncing wildmeat trade in Guyana and expected changes in the context of the oil-related development prospects

    2024

    SWM Programme – Guyana

    Sustainable wildlife management in the Rupununi, Guyana

    SWM Programme – Guyana

    Sustainable wildlife management key as Guyana faces rapid economic change

    SWM Programme – Guyana

    Guyana – Legal, ecological and socio-economic baseline studies to inform sustainable wildlife management

    2022

    SWM Programme – Guyana

    Wildlife and people in the Rupununi: A comprehensive assessment based on science and local knowledge

    2024

    Supporters

    This project is supported by

    Related projects

    Pathobiome of wildlife in Brazil

    Unraveling wildlife disease dynamics for biodiversity conservation and public health

    SWM Programme – Guyana

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  • SWM Programme – Cameroon

    SWM Programme – Cameroon

    The need

    In southern Cameroon, Baka and Bantu communities depend heavily on wild meat for food security, nutrition, and income. However, increasing sedentarisation, agricultural expansion, and growing external demand for wild meat are intensifying hunting pressure on wildlife populations. Food insecurity and limited access to alternative protein sources exacerbate reliance on wild meat. At the same time, tenure insecurity and marginalisation mean that Indigenous communities often lack a meaningful voice in wildlife governance.

    These pressures have contributed to biodiversity decline, heightened human–wildlife conflict, and worsened health risks linked to poor sanitary practices in wild meat handling.

    Ensuring the sustainable use of wildlife is therefore crucial for conserving biodiversity and supporting local livelihoods, improving health, and advancing social equity in Cameroon.

    Duration

    2023 – Present

    Location

    Cameroon (Djoum-Mintom, South Region, TRIDOM landscape)

    Link

    SWM Cameroon

    What we’re doing

    The SWM Programme is designed to reduce hunting of wildlife to sustainable levels, protecting endangered wildlife species, conserving biodiversity, maintaining the essential ecological roles of wildlife within forested and savanna ecosystems, and securing stocks and flows of provisioning ecosystem services.

    The project works in 16 countries, developing innovative, collaborative and scalable new approaches to conserve wild animals and protect ecosystems, whilst at the same time improving the livelihoods of indigenous peoples and rural communities who depend on these resources. Monitoring and evaluation are key for the project, and each of the project sites have already collected baseline information on wild meat use. The project is also monitoring the impacts of project interventions on people and wildlife.

    This project strengthens inclusive, community-led wildlife management in the Djoum-Mintom landscape. Building on rights-based approaches, it works with both Baka and Bantu communities to:

    1

    Secure community rights through Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).

    2

    Promote gender equity and inclusion in wildlife governance.

    3

    Develop and implement participatory hunting management plans.

    4

    Ensure sustainable harvest of resilient species while protecting vulnerable ones.

    5

    Support access to alternative protein sources to reduce pressure on wildlife.

    6

    Improve food safety through training on hygienic wild meat handling and a One Health approach to zoonotic risk.

    7

    Strengthen community capacity in monitoring and decision-making.

    8

    Facilitate behaviour change campaigns to encourage sustainable consumption.

    Learn more about the SWM Programme

    The team

    The SWM Programme is implemented by a consortium of partners working together with governments and local communities, including the:

    • Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
    • French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD)
    • Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)
    • Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)

    This project is led by CIFOR-ICRAF in close collaboration with Cameroon’s Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF), and supported by a network of partners including Zoological Society of London (ZSL), African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), ZyL, and EU NaturAfrica initiatives, as well as SNAPP and GIZ-funded projects.

    Project leads:

    Julia E. Fa

    jfa949@gmail.com

    Featured work

    SWM Programme – Cameroon

    Divergent Trajectories of BMI over Age for Adult Baka Pygmy People and their Sympatric Non-Pygmy Populations

    2020

    SWM Programme – Cameroon

    Understanding Growth and Malnutrition in Baka Pygmy Children

    2020

    SWM Programme – Cameroon

    Wild meat hunting and use by sedentarised Baka Pygmies in southeastern Cameroon

    2020

    SWM Programme – Cameroon

    Ethnobotanical survey of wild edible plants used by Baka people in southeastern Cameroon

    2020

    SWM Programme – Cameroon

    Hunting territories and land use overlap in sedentarised Baka Pygmy communities in southeastern Cameroon

    2021

    Supporters

    This project is supported by

    Related projects

    Wild meat food systems in the Amazon

    Understanding the role of wild meat in food security and nutrition across the Amazon

    SWM Programme – Cameroon

    Sport hunting in Brazil: Patterns, challenges, and pathways to sustainable use

    Understanding illegal sport hunting and its impacts across Brazil

    SWM Programme – Cameroon
  • Disease transmission and wild meat food chain: From forest to fork in Cameroon

    Disease transmission and wild meat food chain: From forest to fork in Cameroon

    The need

    Wild meat plays a crucial role in food security and livelihoods across Central Africa, but its handling and trade also pose potential risks for zoonotic disease transmission (when diseases spread between animals and humans). Promoting safer practices along the wild meat supply chain, from hunting to preparation and sale, is essential to protecting both public health and biodiversity.

    This project seeks to understand how zoonotic disease risks are perceived and mitigated among communities involved in wild meat hunting, preparation, and trade. The final goal of this project is to inform strategies that reduce health risks while supporting sustainable wild meat practices.

    Duration

    2022 – 2024

    Location

    Cameroon

    Link

    WILDMEAT Database

    What we’re doing

    This study investigates risk-mitigating behaviours related to zoonotic disease transmission among key stakeholders in wild meat supply chains near the Dja Reserve and Boumba Bek National Park in Cameroon. Our key activities include:

    1

    Assessing behaviours of hunters, food preparers, and vendors to identify practices that increase or reduce disease transmission risks.

    2

    Understanding local knowledge and perceptions about zoonotic diseases.

    3

    Piloting intervention strategies to promote safer handling and consumption practices in areas around the Dja Reserve.

    4

    Engaging local communities and stakeholders to co-develop risk reduction measures that are practical and culturally appropriate.

    The team

    This project is a collaboration between:

    CIFOR-ICRAF, FOREP, Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, University of Salford

    Project leads:

    Amy Ickowitz

    a.ickowitz@cifor-icraf.org

    Supporters

    This project is supported by

    Related projects

    WILDMEAT project

    Evidence-based approaches to sustainable wild meat management

    Disease transmission and wild meat food chain: From forest to fork in Cameroon

    Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme

    A brighter future for people and wildlife

    Disease transmission and wild meat food chain: From forest to fork in Cameroon
  • WILDMEAT project

    WILDMEAT project

    The need

    Wild meat is an essential resource for millions of people worldwide, providing food security, cultural value, and livelihoods. However, unsustainable hunting and trade pose risks to biodiversity, ecosystem health, and human well-being. Effective conservation and management strategies require reliable data and evidence to balance ecological sustainability with local needs.

    The WILDMEAT Project was created to ensure that efforts to manage wild meat resources are guided by the best available research and knowledge, supporting decision-making for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers.

    Duration

    2014 – Current

    Location

    Global

    Link

    WILDMEAT Database

    What we’re doing

    WILDMEAT provides a comprehensive, freely accessible knowledge hub for wild meat governance and management. Our key activities include:

    1

    WILDMEAT Use Database – A global database with up-to-date information on wild meat use and trade.

    2

    Interventions Database – A collection of national and local initiatives aimed at increasing the sustainability of wild meat.

    3

    WILDMEAT Library – A repository of current research and analysis on wild meat issues.

    4

    WILDMEAT Toolkit – Standardized tools, indicators and methodologies for monitoring and evaluating wild meat use.

    5

    Knowledge Exchange Forum – A platform for connecting practitioners, policymakers, and researchers to share lessons learned and best practices.

    The team

    This project is a collaboration between:

    CIFOR-ICRAF, University of Stirling, University of Kent, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Research Institute for Tropical Ecology (IRET)

    Project leads:

    Lauren Coad

    l.coad@cifor-icraf.org

    Daniel Ingram

    d.j.ingram@kent.ac.uk

    Supporters

    This project is supported by

    Related projects

    SWM Programme – Guyana

    Community-based wildlife management to ensure sustainable wild meat use, food security, and health

    WILDMEAT project

    Consumption and trade of wild animals in West and Central Africa

    Understanding urban wild meat consumption and its socio-ecological impacts

    WILDMEAT project
  • Guyana songbird project

    Guyana songbird project

    The need

    The trade in wild-caught songbirds poses a significant threat to several species, yet it has received far less attention compared to other forms of wildlife trade, especially in Latin America and the Caribbean. While much of the focus has been on the supply side of the trade, there is limited data on the demand from diaspora communities who maintain bird-keeping traditions as part of their cultural heritage.

    In Guyanese communities in New York, ‘bird racing’ competitions are widespread, creating a continuous demand for wild songbirds. Understanding the motivations behind this demand is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies that address unsustainable trapping and trade.

    Duration

    2024 – 2028

    Location

    Guyana and the United States of America (USA)

    What we’re doing

    This four-year project is aimed at understanding and influencing demand for songbirds in diaspora communities. Our key activities include:

    1

    Investigating consumer demand for wild-caught songbirds in Guyanese communities in the USA.

    2

    Exploring the cultural significance of bird-keeping and racing traditions.

    3

    Developing participatory methods to engage communities in sustainable bird-keeping practices.

    4

    Identifying pathways for change that reduce the impact of trade on wild songbird populations.

    The team

    This project is a collaboration between:

    CIFOR-ICRAF, University of Alabama, University of Oxford

    Project leads:

    Lauren Coad

    l.coad@cifor-icraf.org

    Amy Hinsley

    amy.hinsley@biology.ox.ac.uk

    Supporters

    This project is supported by

    Related projects

    Consumption and trade of wild animals in West and Central Africa

    Understanding urban wild meat consumption and its socio-ecological impacts

    Guyana songbird project

    WILDMEAT project

    Evidence-based approaches to sustainable wild meat management

    Guyana songbird project
  • Consumption and trade of wild animals in West and Central Africa

    Consumption and trade of wild animals in West and Central Africa

    The need

    Wild meat consumption in urban areas of West and Central Africa is influenced by complex social, cultural, economic, and environmental factors. While often associated with rural subsistence, wild meat remains a popular dietary choice in cities, raising important questions about food security, conservation, and public health.

    Understanding the drivers of urban wild meat consumption is crucial for developing effective policies that balance biodiversity conservation with food system sustainability. However, data on urban demand, trade networks, and consumer decision-making remain limited. This research provides critical insights to inform strategies that address both conservation concerns and local dietary and economic needs.

    Duration

    2023 – 2026

    Location

    Guinea, Liberia, Cameroon

    What we’re doing

    This research is part of the newly established Food and Nature Programme at University of Kent, which seeks to create sustainable food systems that benefit both people and the environment. This collaborative research programme integrates conservation science, environmental psychology, behavioural science, food systems science, and health studies to quantify and analyse urban wild meat consumption and trade. Key activities include:

    1

    Surveying over 12,000 urban residents across Guinea, Liberia, and Cameroon to assess consumption patterns.

    2

    Using dietary intake surveys and mobile-phone surveys to capture real-time data on wild meat consumption.

    3

    Conducting choice experiments to understand consumer preferences and the motivations behind wild meat purchases.

    4

    Mapping food environments to explore how accessibility and availability influence consumption decisions.

    5

    Analysing socio-cultural, economic, health, and spatial factors that shape urban demand for wild meat.

    This research also explores the barriers to understanding and communicating zoonotic disease risks associated with wild meat by:  

    • Examining challenges in risk perception and communication among different stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers and communities.  
    • Assessing knowledge gaps in how zoonotic spillover risks are understood in different contexts.  
    • Exploring the effectiveness of risk communication strategies to ensure clear, science-based messaging.  
    • Providing recommendations for improving public health messaging and conservation policies related to wild meat and zoonotic diseases.  

    The team

    This project is a collaboration between:

    University of Kent, ABOYERD, University of Yaoundé, Guinée Ecologie, ISAV and Society for the Conservation of Nature Liberia (SCNL)

    Project lead:

    Daniel Ingram

    d.j.ingram@kent.ac.uk

    Featured work

    Consumption and trade of wild animals in West and Central Africa

    Challenges in understanding and communicating the risk of zoonotic disease spillover from wild animal meat

    2025

    Supporters

    This project is supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

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    Community-based wildlife management to ensure sustainable wild meat use, food security, and health

    Consumption and trade of wild animals in West and Central Africa