Cited by 457Wildlife Ecology and ConservationConservation, Biodiversity, and Resource ManagementWildlife Conservation and Criminology Analyses

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 94 of the 94 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 9 of the 132 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Empty forests, empty stomachs? Bushmeat and livelihoods in the Congo and Amazon Basins

Open access
Nasi, R., Taber, A., Van Vliet, N.·2011·International Forestry Review

Abstract

Protein from forest wildlife is crucial to rural food security and livelihoods across the tropics. The harvest of animals such as tapir, duikers, deer, pigs, peccaries, primates and larger rodents, birds and reptiles provides benefits to local people worth millions of US$ annually and represents around 6 million tonnes of animals extracted yearly. Vulnerability to hunting varies, with some species sustaining populations in heavily hunted secondary habitats, while others require intact forests with minimal harvesting to maintain healthy populations. Some species or groups have been characterized as ecosystem engineers and ecological keystone species. They affect plant distribution and structure ecosystems, through seed dispersal and predation, grazing, browsing, rooting and other mechanisms. Global attention has been drawn to their loss through debates regarding bushmeat, the "empty forest" syndrome and their ecological importance. However, information on the harvest remains fragmentary, along with understanding of ecological, socioeconomic and cultural dimensions. Here we assess the consequences, both for ecosystems and local livelihoods, of the loss of these species in the Amazon and Congo basins.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This synthesis reviews bushmeat harvest in the Congo and Amazon Basins, estimating roughly 6 million tonnes of wildlife extracted annually and contrasting ecological impacts with rural and urban livelihood dependence. It argues that sustainable harvest, rather than outright bans, is needed, with different policy contexts in the two basins.

Key findings

  • Updated 2010 estimates put annual extraction at 1,299,000 tonnes in the Amazon and 4,569,000 tonnes in the Congo Basin; consumption was 909,000 tonnes/year in the Amazon and 3,198,000 tonnes/year in the Congo Basin, including 289,000 tonnes/year urban in the Congo.
  • Hunting lowers wildlife densities in hunted versus un-hunted forests: Table 2 reports declines of 80.8% across 23 Amazonian sites in Brazil, 43.0–100% at Makokou, Gabon, 42.1% and 12.9% in Ituri, DRC, and 43.9% in Mossapoula, CAR. Large-bodied, slow-reproducing species such as apes, large primates, carnivores, tapirs, buffaloes and elephants are most vulnerable; hunting is cited as a major cause of a reported 50% decline in apes in Gabon within two decades.
  • Some resilient species persist or increase under hunting, and hunted taxa include keystone species and ecosystem engineers whose loss can disrupt seed dispersal, predation, plant regeneration and forest structure, creating “empty forests.”
  • Bushmeat remains central to livelihoods: rural Amazonian consumption averaged 63 ± 25 kg/capita/year (range 10–190, n = 14), while Congo Basin urban consumption is significant (e.g., 4.7 kg/person/year average across Gabon, DRC and CAR; 7.2 in Libreville; 14.6 in Bangui). Reported trade volumes include 840–1,080 tonnes/year in Yaoundé markets, about 9,500 tonnes/year in Bangui, and an estimated 270 tonnes/year passing through a single European airport.

Methods

  • Synthesis/review drawing on published and unpublished studies, market data and tables to compare ecological and livelihood dimensions of bushmeat use in the Amazon and Congo Basins.
  • Updated 2010 consumption and extraction estimates were calculated using consumption data gathered in the work (Table 3) and updated population figures, assuming a 0.7 meat/live animal ratio.
  • No new primary field sampling is reported; the analysis is descriptive and comparative across sites and basins.

Limitations

  • Stated: information on the bushmeat harvest remains fragmentary; studies are often limited to single sites with multiple research approaches, limiting comparisons, and results are frequently disseminated in unpublished or inaccessible reports.
  • Stated: urban bushmeat consumption data are especially scarce for the Amazon; Congo Basin population data are “notoriously unreliable” and consumption patterns very variable, so the authors caution against concluding that consumption has increased in the Amazon or stabilized in the Congo from their updated estimates.
  • Evident: the synthesis relies on secondary sources and tables with missing or inconsistent data, and the paper notes that very little is known for most Central African hunted species and that four of about 30 commonly hunted Amazonian species are IUCN data deficient.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1505/146554811798293872

Cites

94 of 94 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

30 Own interpretation · 26 No full text of the sources · 25 No basis given · 24 Sources not found · 24 Not checked yet · 6 Partly supported · 5 Own result · 2 Supported · 1 Couldn’t confirm · accuracy not yet measured

Show all 74 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 54
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 21
69 of 69
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Protein from forest wildlife is crucial to rural food security and livelihoods across the tropics.

    “Protein from forest wildlife is crucial to rural food security and livelihoods across the tropics.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The harvest of animals provides benefits to local people worth millions of US$ annually.

    “The harvest of animals such as tapir, duikers, deer, pigs, peccaries, primates and larger rodents, birds and reptiles provides benefits to local people worth millions of US$ annually and represents around 6 million tonnes of animals extracted yearly.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Hunters preferentially target large animals whenever they are available and these are often keystone species.

    “Hunters preferentially target large animals whenever they are available and these are often keystone species.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    When non-indigenous people become richer, they generally turn to alternative sources of protein.

    “When they become”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    In remote forest areas of Central Africa and the Amazon basin, bushmeat is often the main source of animal protein available and plays an essential role in people's diets, especially where livestock husbandry is not feasible and wild fish not available.

    “In remote forest areas of Central Africa and the Amazon basin bushmeat is often the main source of animal protein available and plays an essential role in people's diets especially where livestock husbandry is not a feasible option and wild fish not available.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Unlike rural or forest dwellers, urban consumers usually have a choice of several sources of protein but may opt for bushmeat for a variety of reasons that vary between regions.

    “Unlike rural or forest dwellers, urban consumers usually have a choice of several sources of protein but may opt for bushmeat for a variety of reasons (e.g.cost, taste or preference) that vary between regions.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    In Latin America, fruit eating species are preferred over folivores, the meat of which is frequently described as

    “In Latin America, fruit eating species are preferred over folivores, the meat of which is frequently described as”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    There are prohibitions or taboos on hunting some species, for instance brocket deer by the Ayoreo People of Bolivia and Paraguay.

    “There are also prohibitions or taboos on hunting some of the species as well, for instance for brocket deer by the Ayoreo People of Bolivia and Paraguay.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Data on bushmeat consumption by urban dwellers is especially scarce for the Amazon Basin.

    “Data on bushmeat consumption by urban dwellers is especially scarce for the Amazon Basin (see however the case of Iquitos in the following section).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The volume and impact of sports hunting and tourist consumption of bushmeat are essentially unstudied.

    “However, the volume and impact of these latter uses are essentially unstudied.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Data on population in the Congo Basin are notoriously unreliable and consumption patterns very variable.

    “As for the Congo Basin, data (e.g.population) are notoriously unreliable and consumption patterns very variable.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Pigs and chickens have much higher feed conversion rates than cattle and both can thrive on kitchen scraps and crop residues.

    “Pigs and chickens have much higher feed conversion rates than do cattle and both can thrive on kitchen scraps and crop residues.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Bushmeat trade across borders is frequent in the Congo Basin, especially in forest blocks located close to national borders where civil unrest and war have increased the availability of ammunitions and the demand for bushmeat.

    “Bushmeat trade across borders is frequent in the Congo Basin, especially in forest blocks located close to national borders where civil unrest and war have increased the availability of ammunitions and the demand for bushmeat.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Bushmeat trade to Western countries exists.

    “Bushmeat trade to Western countries also exists.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Even where urban consumers in the Congo Basin have access to domesticated sources of meat, they are imported and/or expensive and bushmeat remains an important part of their diet.

    “Even where urban consumers have access to domesticated sources of meat they are imported and/or expensive and bushmeat remains an important part of their diet.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The production of the main alternative source of protein (cattle) is also the main driver of deforestation in the Amazon basin, with well known negative effects on wildlife and ecosystems.

    “The flip side of the coin is that the production of the main alternative source of protein (e.g.cattle) is also the main driver of deforestation in the Amazon basin, with well known negative effects on wildlife and ecosystems.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Sustainable harvest of bushmeat is achievable.

    “Achieving sustainable harvest of bushmeat is therefore a necessity and by far, the best available option compatible with biodiversity conservation, local livelihoods, food security and food self sufficiency.”
17 of 17

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

1 of 1

Citations

Cites

Show all 89 references

Research works printed but not linked: 13

  1. ANGOUÉ, C., ASSOKO NDONG, A., BINOT, A., CARETTE, S., DE MARET, P. and TREFON, T. 2000. Gabon. In: BAHUCHET, S. and MARET, P.D. (eds.) Les peuples des forêts tropicales aujhourd'hui: Volume III Région Afrique Central. Programme Avenir des Peuples des Forêts Tropicales (APFT), Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
  2. AUZEL, P. and WILKIE, D.S. 2000. Wildlife use in Northern Congo: hunting in a commercial logging concession. 413-454 p. In: ROBINSON, J.G. and BENNET, E.L. (eds.) Hunting for sustainability in tropical forests. Columbia University Press, New York.
  3. BAILEY, R.C. and PEACOCK, N.R. 1988. Efe pygmies of northeast Zaire: subsistence strategies in the Ituri forest. In: DE GARINE, I. And HARRISON, G.A. (eds.) Uncer- tainty in the food supply. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 88-117 p.
  4. BENNETT, E.L., NYAOI, A.J. and SOMPUD, J. 2000. Saving Borneo's bacon: the sustainability of hunting in Sarawak and Sabah. In: ROBINSON, J.G. and BENNETT, E.L. (eds.) Hunting for sustainability in tropical forests. Columbia University Press, New York. 305-324 p.
  5. DELVINGT, W., DETHIER, M., AUZEL, P. and JEANMART, P. 2001. La chasse villageoise Badjoué, gestion coutumière durable ou pillage de la ressource gibier ? 65-92 p. In: DELVINGT, W. (ed.) La forêt des hommes : Terroirs villageois en forêt tropicale africaine. Les Presses Agronomiques de Gembloux, Gembloux.
  6. In: BAHUCHET, S., BLEY, D., PAGEZY, H. and VERNAZZA-LICHT, N. (eds.) L'homme et la forêt tropicale. Travaux Société Ecologie Humaine, Paris.
  7. In: ROBINSON, J.G. and BENNETT, E.L. (eds.) Hunting for sustainability in tropical forests. Columbia University Press, New York.
  8. NOSS, A. 1999. La sostenibilidad de la caceria de subsisten- cia Izoceña. 535-543 p. In: CABRERA, E., MERCOLLI, C. and RESQUIN, R. (eds.) Manejo de fauna silvestre en Amazonıa y Latinoamerica. CITES Paraguay, Fundacion Moises Bertoni, University of Florida, Asuncion, Paraguay.
  9. NOSS, A.J. 2000. Cable snares and nets in the Central African Republic. 282-304 p. In: ROBINSON, J.G. and BENNETT, E.L. (eds.) Hunting for sustainability in tropical forests. Columbia University Press., New York.
  10. ROBINSON, J. and REDFORD, K. 1994. Community-based approaches to wildlife conservation in neotropical forests. In: WESTERN, D. and WRIGHT, R. (eds.) Natural Connections. Island Press.
  11. STEARMAN, A.M. 2000. A pound of flesh: Social changes and modernization as factors in hunting sustainability. 233-250 p. In: ROBINSON, J. and BENNETTE, E. (eds.) Hunting for Sustainability in Tropical Forests. Columbia University Press, New York.
  12. TERBORGH, J. 2010. Trophic Cascades. Duke University Press.
  13. TREFON, T. and DE MARET, P. 1999. Snack nature dans les villes d'Afrique Centrale. In: BAHUCHET, S., BLEY, D., PAGEZY, H. and VERNAZZA-LICHT, N. (eds.) L'homme et la forêt tropicale. Editions de Bergier. TRINCA, C.T. and FERRARI, S.F. 2007. Game populations and hunting pressure on a rural frontier in Southern Brazilian Amazonia. Biologia Geral e Experimental, Universidade Federal de Sergipe 7: 5-16.

Cited by

Sorted by citations

See all 457

Metadata

Authors
Nasi, R., Taber, A., & Van Vliet, N.
Affiliations
CGIAR (FR)
Venue
International Forestry Review
Published
2011-09-01
Volume
13
Issue
3
Pages
355-368
ISSN
1465-5489 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2135735879
Cited by
457
References
89
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 46 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 35 · 2020: 40 · 2019: 57 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 34 · 2015: 37 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 5
FWCI
10.41
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • The International Forestry Review (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion)
  • CGSPace A Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • BioOne Complete (BioOne) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Wildlife Conservation and Criminology Analyses
Keywords
bushmeat, wildlife harvesting, livelihoods, food security, forest fauna, ecosystem engineers, keystone species, species extinction, Amazon basin, Congo Basin

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

A language model drew the claims from the paper on 2026-11-03, under version 3 of the claim definition (model deepseek-v4.1-flash, prompt extract-v3).

A second model labelled each claim on 2026-11-03 (model jev-1.13-20260917, definition revision gold-guideline-v0.2).

Cited sources are checked with a language model’s help (gpt-6-sol).

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review