More People Are Eating Wild Meat Across Central Africa

Largest database ever assembled on wildmeat consumption in Central Africa raises urgency for sustainable wildlife management

To the Point

• More demand for wild meat: from 2000-2022, wild meat consumption increased from 0.73 to 1.10 million tonnes.
• Hotspots of consumption: 40 percent of wild meat consumption came from cities and towns where people are less reliant on wild meat for nutrition and income.
• Sustainability management: The study offers solutions to reduce demand for wild meat in cities and towns to safeguard wildlife for conservation and for the rural communities who rely on wildmeat for livlihood.

A study in Nature provides the first quantitative spatial and temporal analysis of wild meat consumption in Central Africa, revealing a sharp increase in demand that is largely driven by urban populations.

The total annual biomass of wild meat consumed across Central Africa has increased from an estimated 0.73 million tonnes in 2000 to 1.10 million tonnes in 2022. This increase is threatening wildlife populations and raising concerns about long-term nutritional security in rural areas.

Balancing food security and conservation

Meat from wild animals is fundamental for the diets of many rural populations, accounting for 20 percent of the recommended daily protein intake. However, as wild meat trade continues to increase across the region, the scale of consumption is likely to be unsustainable.

To ensure that this important nutrition source remains available for rural communities, the study recommends reducing demand for wild meat in urban areas and developing domestic food systems to replace wild with domestic meat sources like poultry.

"Wild meat consumption is a major part of Central Africa's socio-economic fabric," said lead author, Mattia Bessone, a postdoctoral scientist at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and the the University of Konstanz. "Ensuring sustainable consumption of wild meat is critical for countries in the region to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and to meet Targets 5 and 9 of the Global Biodiversity Framework, which aim to attain the sustainable use of wild species under the Convention on Biological Diversity."

Drivers of wild meat consumption

• Nutrition and food security: Wild meat is an essential source of protein for many rural communities, accounting for 20 percent of the recommended daily protein intake.
• Lack of affordable or safe alternatives: There are few sources of domestic meats available across Central Africa. Limited access to veterinary care and medicines makes livestock production risky and can pose human health risks, particularly in rural areas.
• Sociocultural values: Wild meat is perceived as healthier than domestic or imported meats; it is also a status symbol.

A call for investment in sustainable alternatives

The study highlights the need for coordinated investments in national food systems, including the expansion of alternative protein sectors such as poultry and fisheries. It also underscores the importance of creating alternative livelihoods for those currently dependent on the wild meat trade.

The findings draw on the most comprehensive dataset to date, covering more than 12,000 households across 252 locations in Central Africa. However, significant data gaps remain, and the authors call for further field research to improve monitoring and validate predictive models across the region.

"The WILDMEAT database highlights the power of collaboration" said Lauren Coad, Biodiversity Focal Point at the Centre for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry. "The datasets compiled here represent years of research across more than 250 sites, brought together by governments, NGOs, scientists, and local communities. By working collectively, we have been able to generate a uniquely comprehensive evidence base, revealing critical regional and temporal trends that are essential for informed decision-making."

"This research is an important first step to understanding the drivers and current status of wild meat consumption across Central Africa," said Germain Mavah, Sustainable Wildlife Management Programme Coordinator at Wildlife Conservation Society and Site Coordinator for the Republic of Congo. "Further studies can expand on how citizen science and rural communities contribute to sustainable wildlife management practices, continuing to bridge the gap between tropical conservation and development work."

These findings are the result of a collaboration between the Centre for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry, the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology at University of Kent, the University of Stirling, the Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour at University of Konstanz, the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, and the Institute for Research on Tropical Ecology in Gabon.