There is an urgent need for information, capacity and action to address the illegal and unsustainable trade in bushmeat as hunting is on the rise in eastern Africa. The market for illegal bushmeat -- a term applied to any wild game in Africa hunted for food or income-- is taking a heavy toll on wildlife. The pressure on wildlife species such as the hippopotamus from poaching could jeopardize the long-term health and viability of wildlife. However, the threat is not just to wildlife, but also the lucrative tourist industry that is one of the region's biggest employers.
MENTOR Fellow's Bushmeat Field Assessments
The eight Fellows from Kenya, Southern Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, who were selected in February 2008, spent 6 months at the College of African Wildlife Management taking specially designed coursework on bushmeat solutions and challenges and 12 months in the field under the guidance of experienced conservation Mentors conducting field assessments and implementing pilot projects toward bushmeat solutions. Following are the results of their bushmeat field assessments:
Powerpoint on Findings on Bushmeat Exploitation in Eastern Africa
Factsheet on Kenya, Masai Mara Ecosystem Bushmeat Field Assessment
Factsheet on Kenya Wildlife Policy, Game Ranching and Bushmeat Field Assessment
Factsheet on Southern Sudan, Bandingialo National Park and Bor Bushmeat Field Assessment
Factsheet on Southern Sudan, Boma National Park Bushmeat Field Assessment
Factsheet on Tanzania, Katavi National Park Bushmeat Field Assessment
Factsheet on Tanzania, Morogoro and Kilmbero Districts: Bushmeat Assessment of Urban Centers
Factsheet on Uganda, Masindi, Gulu, Kampala and Kasese: Bushmeat Assessment of Urban Centers
Factsheet on Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya: Governance and Legal Regime Assessment
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MENTOR Fellowship Program Accomplishments 2008-2009
Following are the results of the MENTOR Fellows' field implementation projects that used a multi-pronged approach to dealing with bushmeat by leveraging partnerships on bushmeat awareness, economic and protein alternatives, and law enforcement.
MENTOR Fellowship Program Actions and Accomplishments Fact Sheet
Introduction to Regional Strategy for Bushmeat in Eastern Africa and Role of Pilot Implementation Projects
Joint Presentation on Bushmeat Pilot Implementation Projects
Lessons and Experiences from MENTOR Communications and Partnerships
Bushmeat Law Enforcement and Governance in East Africa Presentation
Kenya National Syposium Report, May 2009
Bushmeat Symposium Abstracts for the Society for Conservation Biology in Ghana, January 2009
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Additional Resources & Links:
Africa Biodiversity Collaborative Group (ABCG): http://www.abcg.org
Bushmeat Crisis Task Force (BCTF): http://www.bushmeat.org
BCTF Presentation on Collaboration, Knowledge and Action on Bushmeat
Bushmeat-free Eastern Africa Network (BEAN): http://www.bushmeatnetwork.org
College of African Wildlife Management (CAWM)-Mweka, Tanzania: http://www.mwekawildlife.org
MENTOR Fellows' Webpages: http://frameweb.org/CommunityBrowser.aspx?id=2374&lang=en-US
MENTOR Fellowship Program Website: http://www.mentorfellowshipprogram.org/
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Wildlife Without Borders Africa Program Website: http://www.fws.gov/international/DIC/regional%20programs/africa/Africa.html