Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
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For the 11 species with data, consumption was most strongly related to avail-
ability. Preference was also significantly related to consumption. Price was not
a significant factor in consumption, but the three most consumed species
were also the cheapest. These species were also very widely available.
The main
conclusions
were:
●
People's relationship with bushmeat was strongly influenced by their ethnic
origin. The Fang living on the island still both preferred and consumed main-
land species, but Bubis never mentioned these meats. The Bubis preferred
species that were commonly available on the island.
●
Preferences are related to a complex set of factors, including tastes, traditions,
the symbolic meaning of the food, but also to availability.
●
One of the main aspects that was missing from the analysis was information
on the socio-economic factors affecting consumption. This is important par-
ticularly because poverty is likely to co-vary with ethnic group (Bubis tend to
be less well off than Fang).
Future directions
:There is a lot of potential for further research on consumption pat-
terns and on the structure of trade in exploited species. There are significant differ-
ences in prices and consumption patterns between rural and urban dwellers, which
probably reflect both preferences and availability (Wilkie
et al
. 2005). Preferences
are likely to be dynamic. For example, Ayres
et al
. (1991) showed that consumption
of wild meats decreased substantially, and of domestic meats increased when a new
road linked an isolated rural community into the wider economy. The degree of
fluidity of preferences has an important impact on policies for improving the
sustainability of hunting. Analysis of the number of individuals involved in
commodity chains, and the profits made along them, is also useful. Bottlenecks
in the commodity chain can be useful targets for intervention (for example there are
often many resource gatherers and consumers, but only a few traders).
users' incentives
There is no one-size-fits-all protocol for studying the incentives of natural resource
users. The techniques that work best depend on the questions being asked and the
characteristics of the population under investigation. Here is one example of a
typical framework, for a study of coral collection for construction materials, for
sale and for their own use, by a small, poor, rural community. The study would last
about 6 months from start to finish.
1. Define the overarching research question.
●
How (un)sustainable is coral collection in the study community, and
what can be done to improve sustainability?
2. Define the specific sub-question that will be addressed in this study.
●
What motivates coral collection by households?
