Socioeconomic changes influence hunter behavior in the northern periphery of Dja Faunal Reserve, Cameroon

A study on the Dja Faunal Reserve, Cameroon, reveals that reciprocal environmental agreements can significantly alter hunter behavior by reducing bushmeat offtake and shifting livelihoods away from natural resource dependence. Researchers found that hunters who participated in these agreements were older, had larger households, earned more income from cocoa sales, and spent less time hunting compared to non-participants. Additionally, signatory hunters used firearms less frequently, consumed more of their catches, and sold less bushmeat. The 15-month study, spanning three years, tracked socioeconomic changes in hunters alongside hunting effort parameters, demonstrating the potential of incentive-based conservation strategies to promote sustainable livelihoods and benefit wildlife conservation.

Kuenbou, J. K., Tagg, N., Khan, D. M., Speelman, S., & Willie, J. (2023). Socioeconomic changes influence hunter behavior in the northern periphery of Dja Faunal Reserve, Cameroon. Animal Conservation, 27(4), 437–448. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12916